Finding ways to achieve higher values of the transition temperature, Tc, in superconductors remains a great challenge. The superconductingphase is often one of several competing types of electronic order, including antiferromagnetism and charge density waves. An emerging trend documented in heavy-fermion and organic conductors is that the maximum Tc for superconductivity occurs under external conditions that cause the critical temperature for a competing order to go to zero. Recently, such competition has been found in multilayer copper oxide high-temperature superconductors (HTSCs) that possess two crystallographically inequivalent CuO2 planes in the unit cell. However, whether the competing electronic state can be suppressed to enhance Tc in HTSCs remains an open question. Here we show that pressure-drivenphase competition leads to an unusual two-step enhancement of c in optimally doped trilayer Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ (Bi2223). We find that Tc first increases with pressure and then decreases after passing through a maximum. Unexpectedly, Tc increases again when the pressure is further raised above a critical value of around 24 GPa, surpassing the first maximum. The presence of this critical pressure is a manifestation of the crossover from the competing order to superconductivity in the inner of the three CuO2 planes. We suggest that the increase at higher pressures occurs as a result of competition between pairing and phase ordering in different CuO2 planes.

Driven nonlinear quantum systems show rich phenomena in various fields of physics. Among them, superconducting quantum circuits have very attractive features such as well-controlled quantum states with design flexibility, strong nonlinearity of Josephson junctions, strong coupling to electromagnetic driving fields, little internal dissipation, and tailored coupling to the electromagnetic environment. We have investigated properties and functionalities of drivensuperconducting quantum circuits. A transmon qubit coupled to a transmission line shows nearly perfect spatial mode matching between the incident and scattered microwave field in the 1D mode. Dressed states under a driving field are studied there and also in a semi-infinite 1D mode terminated by a resonator containing a flux qubit. An effective Λ-type three-level system is realized under an appropriate driving condition. It allows ``impedance-matched'' perfect absorption of incident probe photons and down conversion into another frequency mode. Finally, the weak signal from the qubit is read out using a Josephson parametric amplifier/oscillator which is another nonlinear circuit driven by a strong pump field. This work was partly supported by the Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology (FIRST), Project for Developing Innovation Systems of MEXT, MEXT KAKENHI ``Quantum Cybernetics,'' and the NICT Commissioned Research.

We theoretically study spin current through ferromagnet (F) in a Josephson junction composed of s-wave superconductors and two layers of ferromagnets. Using quasiclassical theory, we show that the long-range spin current can be driven by the superconductingphase difference without a voltage drop. The origin of this spin current is due to spin-triplet Cooper pairs (STCs) formed by electrons of equal spin, which are induced by the proximity effect inside the F. We find that the spin current carried by the STCs exhibits long-range propagation in the F even where the Josephson charge current is practically zero. We also show that this spin current persists over a remarkably longer distance than the ordinary spin current carried by spin polarized conduction electrons in the F. Our results thus indicate the promising potential of Josephson junctions based on multilayer ferromagnets for spintronics applications with long-range propagating spin current. PMID:25167525

More than a quarter century after the discovery of the high-temperature superconductor (HTS) YBa2Cu3O6+δ (YBCO; ref. ), studies continue to uncover complexity in its phase diagram. In addition to HTS and the pseudogap, there is growing evidence for multiple phases with boundaries which are functions of temperature (T), doping (p) and magnetic field. Here we report the low-temperature electronic specific heat (Celec) of YBa2Cu3O6.43 and YBa2Cu3O6.47 (p = 0.076 and 0.084) up to a magnetic field (H) of 34.5 T, a poorly understood region of the underdoped H-T-p phase space. We observe two regimes in the low-temperature limit: below a characteristic magnetic field H' ~ 12-15 T, Celec/T obeys an expected H1/2 behaviour; however, near H' there is a sharp inflection followed by a linear-in-H behaviour. H' rests deep within the superconductingphase and, thus, the linear-in-H behaviour is observed in the zero-resistance regime. In the limit of zero temperature, Celec/T is proportional to the zero-energy electronic density of states. At one of our dopings, the inflection is sharp only at lowest temperatures, and we thus conclude that this inflection is evidence of a magnetic-field-driven quantum phase transition.

{sup 13}C nuclear magnetic resonance measurements were performed on {kappa}-(BEDT-TTF){sub 2}Cu(NCS){sub 2}, with the external field placed parallel to the quasi-2D conducting layers. The absorption spectrum is used to determine the electronic spin polarization M{sub s} as a function of external field H at a temperature T = 0.35 K. A discontinuity in the derivative dM{sub s}/dH at an applied field of H{sub s} = 213 {+-} 3 kOe is taken as evidence for a Zeeman-driven transition within the superconducting state and stabilization of inhomogeneous superconductivity.

The next generations of cosmic microwave background (CMB) instruments will be dedicated to the detection and characterization of CMB B-modes. To measure this tiny signal, instruments need to control and minimize systematics. Signal modulation is one way to achieve such a control. A new generation of focal planes will include the entire detection chain. In this context, we present a superconducting coplanar switch driven by DC current. It consists of a superconducting microbridge which commutes between its on (superconducting) and off (normal metal) states, depending on the amplitude of the injected current compared to the critical current. If the current injected inside the bridge is lower than the critical current, the phase of the signal passing through the bridge is tunable. A first prototype of this component working as a switch and as a phase shifter at 10 GHz has been made. The principle, the setup, and the first measurements made at 4 K will be shown.

A high temperature superconducting (HTS) X-band phase shifter using a distributed Josephson inductance (DJI) approach was designed and fabricated. Phase swings of over 60 deg were measured at 65 K and below, with measurable phase shifts at temperatures above 77 K. High quality HTS films and superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) were deposited by laser ablation. A total of 40 HTS step edge SQUIDs were successfully integrated into a monolithic HTS circuit to produce a phase shifter in a resonant configuration. The magnitude of the Josephson inductance is calculated and a lumped element model is compared to measurements.

Bulk TiSe2 is an intrinsically layered transition metal dichalcogenide hosting both superconducting and charge-density-wave ordering. Motivated by the recent progress in preparing two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, we study these frustrated orderings in a single trilayer of TiSe2. Using a renormalization group approach, we find that electronic correlations can give rise to charge-density-wave order and two kinds of superconductivity. One possible superconducting state corresponds to unconventional s(+-) pairing. The other is particularly exciting as it is chiral, breaking time-reversal symmetry. Its stability depends on the precise strength and screening of the electron-electron interactions in two-dimensional TiSe2. PMID:25379930

When a quantum-mechanical system undergoes an adiabatic cyclic evolution, it acquires a geometrical phase factor in addition to the dynamical one; this effect has been demonstrated in a variety of microscopic systems. Advances in nanotechnology should enable the laws of quantum dynamics to be tested at the macroscopic level, by providing controllable artificial two-level systems (for example, in quantum dots and superconducting devices). Here we propose an experimental method to detect geometric phases in a superconducting device. The setup is a Josephson junction nanocircuit consisting of a superconducting electron box. We discuss how interferometry based on geometrical phases may be realized, and show how the effect may be applied to the design of gates for quantum computation.

A detailed phenomenology of low energy excitations is a crucial starting point for microscopic understanding of complex materials, such as the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. Because of its unique momentum-space discrimination, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is ideally suited for this task in the cuprates, where emergent phases, particularly superconductivity and the pseudogap, have anisotropic gap structure in momentum space. We present a comprehensive doping- and temperature-dependence ARPES study of spectral gaps in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ, covering much of the superconducting portion of the phase diagram. In the ground state, abrupt changes in near-nodal gap phenomenology give spectroscopic evidence for two potential quantum critical points, p = 0.19 for the pseudogap phase and p = 0.076 for another competing phase. Temperature dependence reveals that the pseudogap is not static below Tc and exists p > 0.19 at higher temperatures. Our data imply a revised phase diagram that reconciles conflicting reports about the endpoint of the pseudogap in the literature, incorporates phase competition between the superconducting gap and pseudogap, and highlights distinct physics at the edge of the superconducting dome. PMID:23093670

We demonstrate the role of the proximity effect in the thermal hysteresis of superconducting constrictions. From the analysis of successive thermal instabilities in the transport characteristics of micron-size superconducting quantum interference devices with a well-controlled geometry, we obtain a complete picture of the different thermal regimes. These determine whether or not the junctions are hysteretic. Below the superconductor critical temperature, the critical current switches from a classical weak-link behavior to one driven by the proximity effect. The associated small amplitude of the critical current makes it robust with respect to the heat generation by phase slips, leading to a nonhysteretic behavior.

We show that Berezinskii's classification of the symmetries of Cooper pair amplitudes in terms of parity under transformations that invert spin, space, time, and orbital degrees of freedom holds for driven systems even in the absence of translation invariance. We then discuss the conditions under which pair amplitudes which are odd in frequency can emerge in driven systems. Considering a model Hamiltonian for a superconductor coupled to an external driving potential, we investigate the influence of the drive on the anomalous Green's function, density of states, and spectral function. We find that the anomalous Green's function develops odd in frequency component in the presence of an external drive. Furthermore we investigate how these odd-frequency terms are related to satellite features in the density of states and spectral function. Supported by US DOE BES E 304.

First-principles calculations of electric-field-drivensuperconductivity at the hydrogenated diamond (110) surface are presented. While the hydrogens on the surface effectively maintain the intrinsic sp3 covalent nature of diamond, the hole carriers induced by an external negative electric field (E-field) lead to a metallic surface region. Importantly, the concentration of hole carriers, confined within a few carbon layers of thickness ˜5-10 Å below the surface, exceeds 1021 cm-3, which is larger than the critical hole density responsible for superconductivity in the boron-doped diamond, while the calculated electron-phonon coupling constants are comparable in magnitude, suggesting the possibility of superconductivity with enhanced critical field.

The momentum-resolved nature of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) has made it a key probe of emergent phases in the cuprates, such as superconductivity and the pseudogap, which have anisotropic momentum-space structure. ARPES can be used to infer the origin of spectral gaps from their distinct phenomenology---temperature, doping, and momentum dependence, and this principle has been used to argue that the pseudogap is a distinct phase from superconductivity, rather than a precursor [1]. We have studied Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi-2212) using laser-ARPES, and our data give evidence for three distinct quantum phases comprising the superconducting ground state, accompanied by abrupt changes at p˜0.076 and p˜0.19 in the doping-and-temperature dependence of the gaps near the bond-diagonal (nodal) direction [2]. The latter doping likely marks the quantum critical point of the pseudogap, while the former represents a distinct competing phase at the edge of the superconducting dome. Additionally, we find that the pseudogap advances closer towards the node when superconductivity is weak, just below Tc or at low doping, and retreats towards the antinode well below Tc and at higher doping. This phase competition picture together with the two critical doping are synthesized into our proposed phase diagram, which also reconciles conflicting phase diagrams commonly used in the field. Our results underscore the importance of quantum critical phenomena to cuprate superconductivity, provide a microscopic picture of phase competition in momentum space, and predict the existence of phase boundaries inside the superconducting dome which are different from simple extrapolations from outside the dome. [4pt] [1] I. M. Vishik, W. S. Lee, R.-H. He, M. Hashimoto, Z. Hussain, T. P. Devereaux, and Z.-X. Shen. New J. Phys. 12, 105008 (2010). [0pt] [2] I. M. Vishik, M. Hashimoto, R.-H. He, W. S. Lee, F. Schmitt, D. H. Lu, R.G. Moore, C. Zhang, W. Meevasana, T. Sasagawa, S. Uchida, K

When a current is applied to a type-I superconducting strip containing a narrow channel across its width, magnetic flux spots nucleate at the edge and are then driven along the channel by the current. These flux “drops” are reminiscent of water drops dripping from a faucet, a model system for studying low-dimensional chaos. We use a novel high-bandwidth Hall probe to detect in real time the motion of individual flux spots moving along the channel. Analyzing the time series consisting of the intervals between successive flux drops, we find distinct regions of chaotic behavior characterized by positive Lyapunov exponents, indicating that there is a close analogy between the dynamics of the superconducting and water drop systems.

Most of the high {Tc} superconductors and other perovskite-related cuprates exhibit some kind of structural instability. For example, tetragonal-to-orthorhombic phase transformations occur in the Y-Ba-Cu-O and La-Sr-Cu-O systems while crystal structures in the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O and Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O systems have incommensurate periodicities associated with displacements of the heavy cations. In YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}}, the transformation is due to the ordering of oxygen vacancies while in La{sub 2-x}Sr{sub x}CuO{sub 4} the transformation is accompanied by tilting of the (CuO{sub 6}) octahedra. Such tilting and distortion of the co-ordination octahedra commonly occur in perovskite-related compounds and transformations between the structures are frequently martensitic. Phase transformations in the superconducting cuprates have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy but none of them appear to be martensitic. The phase transformations are accompanied by twinning and the resulting configurations are used to calculate twin boundary energies.

Most of the high {Tc} superconductors and other perovskite-related cuprates exhibit some kind of structural instability. For example, tetragonal-to-orthorhombic phase transformations occur in the Y-Ba-Cu-O and La-Sr-Cu-O systems while crystal structures in the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O and Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O systems have incommensurate periodicities associated with displacements of the heavy cations. In YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}}, the transformation is due to the ordering of oxygen vacancies while in La{sub 2-x}Sr{sub x}CuO{sub 4} the transformation is accompanied by tilting of the [CuO{sub 6}] octahedra. Such tilting and distortion of the co-ordination octahedra commonly occur in perovskite-related compounds and transformations between the structures are frequently martensitic. Phase transformations in the superconducting cuprates have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy but none of them appear to be martensitic. The phase transformations are accompanied by twinning and the resulting configurations are used to calculate twin boundary energies.

A light-drivenphase shifter is provided for modulating a transmission light beam. A gaseous medium such as argon is provided with electron energy states excited to populate a metastable state. A tunable dye laser is selected with a wavelength effective to deplete the metastable electron state and may be intensity modulated. The dye laser is directed through the gaseous medium to define a first optical path having an index of refraction determined by the gaseous medium having a depleted metastable electron state. A transmission laser beam is also directed through the gaseous medium to define a second optical path at least partially coincident with the first optical path. The intensity of the dye laser beam may then be varied to phase modulate the transmission laser beam.

The short coherence lengths characteristic of low-dimensional superconductors are associated with usefully high critical fields or temperatures. Unfortunately, such materials are often sensitive to disorder and suffer from phase fluctuations in the superconducting order parameter which diverge with temperature T, magnetic field H, or current I. We propose an approach to overcome synthesis and fluctuation problems: building superconductors from inhomogeneous composites of nanofilaments. Macroscopic crystals of quasi-one-dimensional Na2-δMo6Se6 featuring Na vacancy disorder (δ ≈ 0.2) are shown to behave as percolative networks of superconducting nanowires. Long-range order is established via transverse coupling between individual one-dimensional filaments, yet phase coherence remains unstable to fluctuations and localization in the zero (T,H,I) limit. However, a region of reentrant phase coherence develops upon raising (T,H,I). We attribute this phenomenon to an enhancement of the transverse coupling due to electron delocalization. Our observations of reentrant phase coherence coincide with a peak in the Josephson energy EJ at nonzero (T,H,I), which we estimate using a simple analytical model for a disordered anisotropic superconductor. Na2-δMo6Se6 is therefore a blueprint for a future generation of nanofilamentary superconductors with inbuilt resilience to phase fluctuations at elevated (T,H,I). PMID:26727335

A non-trivial temperature evolution of superconductivity including a temperature-induced phase transition between two superconductingphases or even a time-reversal symmetry breaking order parameter is in principle expected in multiband superconductors such as iron-pnictides. Here we present scanning tunnelling spectroscopy data of LiFeAs which reveal two distinct superconductingphases: at = 18 K a partial superconducting gap opens, evidenced by subtle, yet clear features in the tunnelling spectra, i.e. particle-hole symmetric coherence peak and dip-hump structures. At Tc = 16 K, these features substantiate dramatically and become characteristic of full superconductivity. Remarkably, the distance between the dip-hump structures and the coherence peaks remains practically constant in the whole temperature regimeT ≤ . This rules out the connection of the dip-hump structures to an antiferromagnetic spin resonance. PMID:27297474

A non-trivial temperature evolution of superconductivity including a temperature-induced phase transition between two superconductingphases or even a time-reversal symmetry breaking order parameter is in principle expected in multiband superconductors such as iron-pnictides. Here we present scanning tunnelling spectroscopy data of LiFeAs which reveal two distinct superconductingphases: at = 18 K a partial superconducting gap opens, evidenced by subtle, yet clear features in the tunnelling spectra, i.e. particle-hole symmetric coherence peak and dip-hump structures. At Tc = 16 K, these features substantiate dramatically and become characteristic of full superconductivity. Remarkably, the distance between the dip-hump structures and the coherence peaks remains practically constant in the whole temperature regimeT ≤ . This rules out the connection of the dip-hump structures to an antiferromagnetic spin resonance. PMID:27297474

A non-trivial temperature evolution of superconductivity including a temperature-induced phase transition between two superconductingphases or even a time-reversal symmetry breaking order parameter is in principle expected in multiband superconductors such as iron-pnictides. Here we present scanning tunnelling spectroscopy data of LiFeAs which reveal two distinct superconductingphases: at = 18 K a partial superconducting gap opens, evidenced by subtle, yet clear features in the tunnelling spectra, i.e. particle-hole symmetric coherence peak and dip-hump structures. At Tc = 16 K, these features substantiate dramatically and become characteristic of full superconductivity. Remarkably, the distance between the dip-hump structures and the coherence peaks remains practically constant in the whole temperature regimeT ≤ . This rules out the connection of the dip-hump structures to an antiferromagnetic spin resonance.

The technique presented in this paper enables the regulation of both radio frequency amplitude and phase in narrow band devices such as a Superconducting RF (SRF) cavity driven by constant power output devices i.e. magnetrons [1]. The ability to use low cost high efficiency magnetrons for accelerator RF power systems, with tight vector regulation, presents a substantial cost savings in both construction and operating costs - compared to current RF power system technology. An operating CW system at 2.45 GHz has been experimentally developed. Vector control of an injection locked magnetron has been extensively tested and characterized with a SRFmore » cavity as the load. Amplitude dynamic range of 30 dB, amplitude stability of 0.3% r.m.s, and phase stability of 0.26 degrees r.m.s. has been demonstrated.« less

The technique presented in this paper enables the regulation of both radio frequency amplitude and phase in narrow band devices such as a Superconducting RF (SRF) cavity driven by constant power output devices i.e. magnetrons [1]. The ability to use low cost high efficiency magnetrons for accelerator RF power systems, with tight vector regulation, presents a substantial cost savings in both construction and operating costs - compared to current RF power system technology. An operating CW system at 2.45 GHz has been experimentally developed. Vector control of an injection locked magnetron has been extensively tested and characterized with a SRF cavity as the load. Amplitude dynamic range of 30 dB, amplitude stability of 0.3% r.m.s, and phase stability of 0.26 degrees r.m.s. has been demonstrated.

From measurements of the structural, superconducting and normal state transport properties of rare earth doped La{sub 2{minus}x}Sr{sub x}CuO{sub 4} the authors find a phase boundary between a superconducting and a non-superconducting state of the low temperature tetragonal phase. This phase boundary is determined by the magnitude of the buckling of the Cu-O-Cu bonds in the CuO{sub 2} layers, suggesting the importance of spin-orbit coupling for the electronic properties of these compounds.

We study the phase diagram of the Hubbard model in the weak-coupling limit for coexisting spin-density-wave order and spin-fluctuation-mediated superconductivity. Both longitudinal and transverse spin fluctuations contribute significantly to the effective interaction potential, which creates Cooper pairs of the quasiparticles of the antiferromagnetic metallic state. We find a dominant dx2-y2-wave solution in both electron- and hole-doped cases. In the quasi-spin-triplet channel, the longitudinal fluctuations give rise to an effective attraction supporting a p -wave gap, but are overcome by repulsive contributions from the transverse fluctuations which disfavor p -wave pairing compared to dx2-y2. The subleading pair instability is found to be in the g -wave channel, but complex admixtures of d and g are not energetically favored since their nodal structures coincide. Inclusion of interband pairing, in which each fermion in the Cooper pair belongs to a different spin-density-wave band, is considered for a range of electron dopings in the regime of well-developed magnetic order. We demonstrate that these interband pairing gaps, which are nonzero in the magnetic state, must have the same parity under inversion as the normal intraband gaps. The self-consistent solution to the full system of five coupled gap equations gives intraband and interband pairing gaps of dx2-y2 structure and similar gap magnitude. In conclusion, the dx2-y2 gap dominates for both hole and electron doping inside the spin-density-wave phase.

We examine the dynamics of the electroweak phase transition in the early Universe. For Higgs masses in the range 46 less than or = M sub H less than or = 150 GeV and top quark masses less than 200 GeV, regions of symmetric and asymmetric vacuum coexist to below the critical temperature, with thermal equilibrium between the two phases maintained by fluctuations of both phases. We propose that the transition to the asymmetric vacuum is completed by percolation of these subcritical fluctuations. Our results are relevant to scenarios of baryogenesis that invoke a weakly first-order phase transition at the electroweak scale.

The electron and phonon spectra, as well as the densities of electron and phonon states of the SH{sub 3} phase and the stable orthorhombic structure of hydrogen sulfide SH{sub 2}, are calculated for the pressure interval 100–225 GPa. It is found that the I4/mmm phase can be responsible for the superconducting properties of metallic hydrogen sulfide along with the SH{sub 3} phase. Sequential stages for obtaining and conservation of the SH{sub 2} phase are proposed. The properties of two (SH{sub 2} and SH{sub 3}) superconductingphases of hydrogen sulfide are compared.

We have studied the magnetic field or disorder induced insulating and metallic phases in amorphous Ta superconducting thin films. The evolution of the nonlinear transport in the insulating phase exhibits a non-monotonic behavior as the magnetic field is increased. We suggest that this observation could be evidence of the presence of localized Cooper pairs in the insulating phase. As the metallic phase intervenes the superconducting and insulating states in Ta films, this result further reveals that Cooper pairs also exist in the metallic ground state.

Chromium hydride is a prototype stoichiometric transition metal hydride. The phase diagram of Cr-H system at high pressures remains largely unexplored due to the challenges in dealing with the high activation barriers and complications in handing hydrogen under pressure. We have performed an extensive structural study on Cr-H system at pressure range 0 ∼ 300 GPa using an unbiased structure prediction method based on evolutionary algorithm. Upon compression, a number of hydrides are predicted to become stable in the excess hydrogen environment and these have compositions of Cr2Hn (n = 2-4, 6, 8, 16). Cr2H3, CrH2 and Cr2H5 structures are versions of the perfect anti-NiAs-type CrH with ordered tetrahedral interstitial sites filled by H atoms. CrH3 and CrH4 exhibit host-guest structural characteristics. In CrH8, H2 units are also identified. Our study unravels that CrH is a superconductor at atmospheric pressure with an estimated transition temperature (T c) of 10.6 K, and superconductivity in CrH3 is enhanced by the metallic hydrogen sublattice with T c of 37.1 K at 81 GPa, very similar to the extensively studied MgB2. PMID:26626579

Chromium hydride is a prototype stoichiometric transition metal hydride. The phase diagram of Cr-H system at high pressures remains largely unexplored due to the challenges in dealing with the high activation barriers and complications in handing hydrogen under pressure. We have performed an extensive structural study on Cr-H system at pressure range 0 ∼ 300 GPa using an unbiased structure prediction method based on evolutionary algorithm. Upon compression, a number of hydrides are predicted to become stable in the excess hydrogen environment and these have compositions of Cr2Hn (n = 2–4, 6, 8, 16). Cr2H3, CrH2 and Cr2H5 structures are versions of the perfect anti-NiAs-type CrH with ordered tetrahedral interstitial sites filled by H atoms. CrH3 and CrH4 exhibit host-guest structural characteristics. In CrH8, H2 units are also identified. Our study unravels that CrH is a superconductor at atmospheric pressure with an estimated transition temperature (T c) of 10.6 K, and superconductivity in CrH3 is enhanced by the metallic hydrogen sublattice with T c of 37.1 K at 81 GPa, very similar to the extensively studied MgB2. PMID:26626579

The smaller the system, typically - the higher is the impact of fluctuations. In narrow superconducting wires sufficiently close to the critical temperature Tc thermal fluctuations are responsible for the experimentally observable finite resistance. Quite recently it became possible to fabricate sub-10 nm superconducting structures, where the finite resistivity was reported within the whole range of experimentally obtainable temperatures. The observation has been associated with quantum fluctuations capable to quench zero resistivity in superconducting nanowires even at temperatures T→0. Here we demonstrate that in tiny superconducting nanorings the same phenomenon is responsible for suppression of another basic attribute of superconductivity - persistent currents - dramatically affecting their magnitude, the period and the shape of the current-phase relation. The effect is of fundamental importance demonstrating the impact of quantum fluctuations on the ground state of a macroscopically coherent system, and should be taken into consideration in various nanoelectronic applications. PMID:22389762

We describe an electron bunch compression scheme suitable for use in a light source driven by a superconducting radio frequency (SRF) linac. The key feature is the use of a recirculating linac to perform the initial bunch compression. Phasing of the second pass beam through the linac is chosen to de-chirp the electron bunch prior to acceleration to the final energy in an SRF linac ('afterburner'). The final bunch compression is then done at maximum energy. This scheme has the potential to circumvent some of the most technically challenging aspects of current longitudinal matches; namely transporting a fully compressed, high peak current electron bunch through an extended SRF environment, the need for a RF harmonic linearizer and the need for a laser heater. Additional benefits include a substantial savings in capital and operational costs by efficiently using the available SRF gradient.

We examine the effectiveness of bulk and surface pinning in the superconductingphases of UPt_3. Using high resolution Hall probe arrays, we measure locally the magnetization hysteresis and relaxation in a single crystal torus. The toroidal topology allows us to distinguish surface and bulk pinning effects by measuring the local magnetization over the hole, the bulk, and the interface. By comparing field cooled and zero field cooled measurements, we attempt to correlate the changes in flux pinning with the transition between the two superconductingphases. (R. J. Zieve et. al., Phys. Rev. B51), 12041 (1995)

A process for preparing a superconducting film, such as a thallium-barium-calcium-copper oxide superconducting film, having substantially uniform phase development. The process comprises providing an electrodeposition bath having one or more soluble salts of one or more respective potentially superconducting metals in respective amounts adequate to yield a superconducting film upon subsequent appropriate treatment. Should all of the metals required for producing a superconducting film not be made available in the bath, such metals can be a part of the ambient during a subsequent annealing process. A soluble silver salt in an amount between about 0.1% and about 4.0% by weight of the provided other salts is also provided to the bath, and the bath is electrically energized to thereby form a plated film. The film is annealed in ambient conditions suitable to cause formation of a superconductor film. Doping with silver reduces the temperature at which the liquid phase appears during the annealing step, initiates a liquid phase throughout the entire volume of deposited material, and influences the nucleation and growth of the deposited material.

A process is disclosed for preparing a superconducting film, such as a thallium-barium-calcium-copper oxide superconducting film, having substantially uniform phase development. The process comprises providing an electrodeposition bath having one or more soluble salts of one or more respective potentially superconducting metals in respective amounts adequate to yield a superconducting film upon subsequent appropriate treatment. Should all of the metals required for producing a superconducting film not be made available in the bath, such metals can be a part of the ambient during a subsequent annealing process. A soluble silver salt in an amount between about 0.1% and about 4.0% by weight of the provided other salts is also provided to the bath, and the bath is electrically energized to thereby form a plated film. The film is annealed in ambient conditions suitable to cause formation of a superconductor film. Doping with silver reduces the temperature at which the liquid phase appears during the annealing step, initiates a liquid phase throughout the entire volume of deposited material, and influences the nucleation and growth of the deposited material. 3 figs.

Despite the enormous effort expended over the past ten years to determine the mechanism underlying high temperature superconductivity in cuprates there is still no consensus on the physical origin of this fascinating phenomenon. This is a consequence of a number of factors, among which are the intrinsic difficulties in understanding the strong electron correlations in the copper oxides, determining the roles played by antiferromagnetic interactions and low dimensionality, analyzing the complex phonon dispersion relationships, and characterizing the phase diagrams which are functions of the physical parameters of temperature and pressure, as well as the chemical parameters of stoichiometry and hole concentration. In addition to all of these intrinsic difficulties, extrinsic materials issues such as sample quality and homogeneity present additional complications. Within the field of high temperature superconductivity there exists a subfield centered around the material originally reported to exhibit high temperature superconductivity by Bednorz and Mueller, Ba doped La{sub 2}CuO{sub 4}. This is structurally the simplest cuprate superconductor. The authors report on studies of phase differences observed between such base superconductors doped with Ba or Sr. What these studies have revealed is a fascinating interplay of structural, magnetic and superconducting properties which is unique in the field of high temperature superconductivity and is summarized in this paper.

Tungsten ditelluride has attracted intense research interest due to the recent discovery of its large unsaturated magnetoresistance up to 60 T. Motivated by the presence of a small, sensitive Fermi surface of 5d electronic orbitals, we boost the electronic properties by applying a high pressure, and introduce superconductivity successfully. Superconductivity sharply appears at a pressure of 2.5 GPa, rapidly reaching a maximum critical temperature (Tc) of 7 K at around 16.8 GPa, followed by a monotonic decrease in Tc with increasing pressure, thereby exhibiting the typical dome-shaped superconductingphase. From theoretical calculations, we interpret the low-pressure region of the superconducting dome to an enrichment of the density of states at the Fermi level and attribute the high-pressure decrease in Tc to possible structural instability. Thus, tungsten ditelluride may provide a new platform for our understanding of superconductivity phenomena in transition metal dichalcogenides.

Tungsten ditelluride has attracted intense research interest due to the recent discovery of its large unsaturated magnetoresistance up to 60 T. Motivated by the presence of a small, sensitive Fermi surface of 5d electronic orbitals, we boost the electronic properties by applying a high pressure, and introduce superconductivity successfully. Superconductivity sharply appears at a pressure of 2.5 GPa, rapidly reaching a maximum critical temperature (Tc) of 7 K at around 16.8 GPa, followed by a monotonic decrease in Tc with increasing pressure, thereby exhibiting the typical dome-shaped superconductingphase. From theoretical calculations, we interpret the low-pressure region of the superconducting dome to an enrichment of the density of states at the Fermi level and attribute the high-pressure decrease in Tc to possible structural instability. Thus, tungsten ditelluride may provide a new platform for our understanding of superconductivity phenomena in transition metal dichalcogenides. PMID:26203922

High-pressure structures of disilane (Si2H6) are investigated extensively by means of first-principles density functional theory and a random structure-searching method. Three metallic structures with P-1, Pm-3m, and C2/c symmetries are found, which are more stable than those of XY3-type candidates under high pressure. Enthalpy calculations suggest a remarkably wide decomposition (Si and H2) pressure range below 135 GPa, above which three metallic structures are stable. Perturbative linear-response calculations for Pm-3m disilane at 275 GPa show a large electron-phonon coupling parameter λ of 1.397 and the resulting superconducting critical temperature beyond the order of 102 K. PMID:20479272

High-pressure structures of disilane (Si(2)H(6)) are investigated extensively by means of first-principles density functional theory and a random structure-searching method. Three metallic structures with P-1, Pm-3m, and C2/c symmetries are found, which are more stable than those of XY(3)-type candidates under high pressure. Enthalpy calculations suggest a remarkably wide decomposition (Si and H(2)) pressure range below 135 GPa, above which three metallic structures are stable. Perturbative linear-response calculations for Pm-3m disilane at 275 GPa show a large electron-phonon coupling parameter lambda of 1.397 and the resulting superconducting critical temperature beyond the order of 10(2) K. PMID:20479272

Beam-bunch arrival time has been measured for the first time by operating superconducting cavities, normally part of the linac accelerator array, in a bunch-detecting mode. The very high Q of the superconducting cavities provides high sensitivity and allows for phase-detecting low-current beams. In detecting mode, the resonator is operated at a very low field level comparable to the field induced by the bunched beam. Because of this, the rf field in the cavity is a superposition of a 'pure' (or reference) rf and the beam-induced signal. A new method of circular phase rotation (CPR), allowing extraction of the beam phase information from the composite rf field was developed. Arrival time phase determination with CPR is better than 1{sup o} (at 48 MHz) for a beam current of 100 nA. The electronics design is described and experimental data are presented.

We experimentally investigated the transport properties of thin, narrow superconducting aluminum nanowires as a function of magnetic field and temperature. We characterized the full superconductingphase diagram with respect to magnetic field and temperature, and show the onset of a flux-flow phase for certain values of temperature and magnetic field. The flux-flow resistance follows the Bardeen-Stephen model and it is shown that the resistance increases linearly with respect to magnetic field in this region of the phase diagram. In addition, we show the saturation to a non-zero finite resistance state below the normal state resistance for certain magnetic fields as the temperature decreases to zero. This work is supported by NSF DMR-1507782.

This paper presents the results of an investigation aimed at realizing a tunable superconducting mm-wave phase shifter. The tuning mechanism is based on inductance modulation of NbN microstrips by excess quasiparticle injection. When measured by a dc method, using the interference patterns and resonances of specially designed dc SQUIDs, the inductance of NbN microstrips can be varied by up to 300%. Based on these results, we have designed and fabricated superconducting microstrip interferometers to operate as low power 100 GHz phase shifters. The 100 GHZ signal is coupled into and out of the interferometers by finline antennas. Amplitude modulation of the output is used as the criterion for phase shift in one of the interferometer branches.

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Niowave, Inc., and Boeing have recently demonstrated operation of the first superconducting RF electron gun based on a quarter wave resonator structure. In preliminary tests, this gun has produced 10 ps long bunches with charge in excess of 78 pC, and with beam energy up to 396 keV. Initial testing occurred at Niowave's Lansing, MI facility, but the gun and diagnostic beam line are planned for installation in California in the near future. The design of the diagnostic beam line is conducive to the addition of a Cerenkov radiator without interfering with other beam line operations. Design and simulations of a Cerenkov radiator, consisting of a dielectric lined waveguide will be presented. The dispersion relation for the structure is determined and the beam interaction is studied using numerical simulations. The characteristics of the microwave radiation produced in both the short and long bunch regimes will be presented.

In a one-dimensional spinless p-wave superconductor with coherence length ξ, disorder induces a phase transition between a topologically nontrivial phase and a trivial insulating phase at the critical mean-free path l=ξ/2. Here, we show that a multichannel spinless p-wave superconductor goes through an alternation of topologically trivial and nontrivial phases upon increasing the disorder strength, the number of phase transitions being equal to the channel number N. The last phase transition, from a nontrivial phase into the trivial phase, takes place at a mean-free path l=ξ/(N+1), parametrically smaller than the critical mean-free path in one dimension. Our result is valid in the limit that the wire width W is much smaller than the superconducting coherence length ξ.

There are two key systems that must operate efficiently, in order for a muon collider to be a viable option for high energy physics. These systems are the muon production and collection system and the muon cooling system. Both systems require the use of high field superconducting solenoid magnets. This paper describes the supcrconducting solenoid system used for the capture and phase rotation of the pions that are produced on a target in a high intensity proton beam.

In this study, we examine effective field theories of superconductingphases with topological order, making a connection to proposed realizations of exotic topological phases (including those hosting Ising and Fibonacci anyons) in superconductor-quantum Hall heterostructures. Our effective field theories for the non-Abelian superconducting states are non-Abelian Chern-Simons theories in which the condensation of vortices carrying non-Abelian gauge flux leads to the associated Abelian quantum Hall states. This Chern-Simons-Higgs condensation process is dual to the emergence of superconducting non-Abelian topological phases in coupled chain constructions. In such transitions, the chiral central charge of the system generally changes, so they fall outside the description of bosonic condensation transitions put forth by Bais and Slingerland [F. A. Bais and J. K. Slingerland, Phys. Rev. B 79, 045316 (2009), 10.1103/PhysRevB.79.045316] (though the two approaches agree when the described transitions coincide). Our condensation process may be generalized to Chern-Simons theories based on arbitrary Lie groups, always describing a transition from a Lie algebra to its Cartan subalgebra. We include several instructive examples of such transitions.

In this paper, we determine the phase diagrams (for T = 0 as well as T > 0) of the Penson-Kolb-Hubbard model for two dimensional square lattice within Hartree-Fock mean-field theory focusing on an investigation of superconductingphases and on a possibility of the occurrence of the phase separation. We obtain that the phase separation, which is a state of coexistence of two different superconductingphases (with s- and η-wave symmetries), occurs in definite ranges of the electron concentration. In addition, increasing temperature can change the symmetry of the superconducting order parameter (from η-wave into s-wave). The system considered exhibits also an interesting multicritical behaviour including bicritical points. The relevance of the results to experiments for real materials is also discussed.

A hybrid quantum architecture was proposed to engineer a localization-delocalization phase transition of light in a two-dimension square lattices of superconducting coplanar waveguide resonators, which are interconnected by current-biased Josephson junction phase qubits. We find that the competition between the on-site repulsion and the nonlocal photonic hopping leads to the Mott insulator-superfluid transition. By using the mean-field approach and the quantum master equation, the phase boundary between these two different phases could be obtained when the dissipative effects of superconducting resonators and phase qubit are considered. The good tunability of the effective on-site repulsion and photon-hopping strengths enable quantum simulation on condensed matter physics and many-body models using such a superconducting resonator lattice system. The experimental feasibility is discussed using the currently available technology in the circuit QED.

In quantum information science, the phase of a wavefunction plays an important role in encoding information. While most experiments in this field rely on dynamic effects to manipulate this information, an alternative approach is to use geometric phase, which has been argued to have potential fault tolerance [1]. Here we demonstrate the controlled accumulation of a geometric phase, Berry's phase, in a superconducting qubit, manipulating the qubit geometrically using microwave radiation, and observing the accumulated phase in an interference experiment [2]. This is achieved utilising the excellent phase coherence and qubit control possible in Circuit QED [3]. We find excellent agreement with Berry's predictions, and also observe a geometry dependent contribution to dephasing. [1] J.A. Jones et al, Nature 403, 869 (2000) [2] P.J. Leek et al, Science, 22 November 2007 (10.1126/science.1149858) [3] A. Wallraff et al, Nature 431, 162 (2004)

Properties of wide superconducting tin films in the resistive current state with phase slippage have been studied experimentally. The authors have observed a region of excess conductivity on the current-voltage characteristics of the samples. Experimental results were discussed in view of the theory establishing the relationship between an interference term of the total current and excess current in weak superconductors. They derived the equation to evaluate the inelastic scattering time of superconductor {tau}{sub E} using the excess current of wide films with phase slippage. Their {tau}{sub E} values are in a good agreement with those obtained by other methods.

Motivated by the ambiguous experimental data for the superconductingphase in silane (SiH4), which may originate from platinum hydride (PtH), we provide a theoretical study of the superconducting state in the latter alloy. The quantitative estimates of the thermodynamics of PtH at 100 GPa are given for a wide range of Coulomb pseudopotential values ({μ }*) within the Eliashberg formalism. The obtained critical temperature value ({T}{{C}}\\in < 12.94,20.01> for {μ }*\\in < 0.05,0.15> ) agrees well with the experimental TC for SiH4, which may be ascribed to PtH. Moreover, the calculated characteristic thermodynamic ratios exceed the predictions of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory, implying the occurrence of strong-coupling and retardation effects in PtH. We note that our results may be of high relevance for future theoretical and experimental studies on hydrides.

The development of the fundamental superconducting (SC) energy scales—the SC energy gap Δ and the superfluid stiffness J —of granular aluminum, i.e., thin films composed of coupled nanograins, is studied by means of optical THz spectroscopy. Starting from well-coupled grains, Δ grows as the grains are progressively decoupled, causing the unconventional increase of Tc with sample resistivity. When the grain coupling is suppressed further, Δ saturates while the critical temperature Tc decreases, concomitantly with a sharp decline of J , delimiting a SC dome in the phase diagram. This crossover to a phase-driven SC transition is accompanied by an optical gap surviving into the normal state above Tc. We demonstrate that granular aluminum is an ideal testbed to understand the interplay between quantum confinement and global SC phase coherence due to nanoinhomogeneity.

We study diffusion of the Josephson phase in the asymmetric superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) subjected to a time-periodic current and pierced by an external magnetic flux. We analyze a relation between phase diffusion and quality of transport characterized by the dc voltage across the SQUID and efficiency of the device. In doing so, we concentrate on the previously reported regime [J. Spiechowicz and J. Łuczka, New J. Phys. 17, 023054 (2015)] for which efficiency of the SQUID attains a global maximum. For long times, the mean-square displacement of the phase is a linear function of time, meaning that diffusion is normal. Its coefficient is small indicating rather regular phase evolution. However, it can be magnified several times by tailoring experimentally accessible parameters like amplitudes of the ac current or external magnetic flux. Finally, we prove that in the deterministic limit this regime is essentially non-chaotic and possesses an unexpected simplicity of attractors. PMID:26026322

We study diffusion of the Josephson phase in the asymmetric superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) subjected to a time-periodic current and pierced by an external magnetic flux. We analyze a relation between phase diffusion and quality of transport characterized by the dc voltage across the SQUID and efficiency of the device. In doing so, we concentrate on the previously reported regime [J. Spiechowicz and J. Łuczka, New J. Phys. 17, 023054 (2015)] for which efficiency of the SQUID attains a global maximum. For long times, the mean-square displacement of the phase is a linear function of time, meaning that diffusion is normal. Its coefficient is small indicating rather regular phase evolution. However, it can be magnified several times by tailoring experimentally accessible parameters like amplitudes of the ac current or external magnetic flux. Finally, we prove that in the deterministic limit this regime is essentially non-chaotic and possesses an unexpected simplicity of attractors.

The apparently inimical relationship between magnetism and superconductivity has come under increasing scrutiny in a wide range of material classes, where the free energy landscape conspires to bring them in close proximity to each other. Particularly enigmatic is the case when these phases microscopically interpenetrate, though the manner in which this can be accomplished remains to be fully comprehended. Here, we present combined measurements of elastic neutron scattering, magnetotransport, and heat capacity on a prototypical heavy fermion system, in which antiferromagnetism and superconductivity are observed. Monitoring the response of these states to the presence of the other, as well as to external thermal and magnetic perturbations, points to the possibility that they emerge from different parts of the Fermi surface. Therefore, a single 4f state could be both localized and itinerant, thus accounting for the coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity.

A phase shifter is disclosed having a reference path and a delay path, light sources, and superconductive switches. Each of the superconductive switches is terminated in a virtual short circuit, which may be a radial stub. Switching between the reference path and delayed path is accomplished by illuminating the superconductive switches connected to the desired path, while not illuminating the superconductive switches connected to the other path.

The influence of intense magnetic fields on the behavior of color superconducting cold quark matter is investigated using an SU(2) f NJL-type model for which a novel regulation scheme is introduced. In such a scheme the contributions which are explicitly dependent on the magnetic field turn out to be finite and, thus, do not require to be regularized. As a result of this, non-physical oscillations that arise from regularizing magnetic field dependent terms are naturally removed, and oscillations that are actually physical can be better appreciated. The phase diagrams in the ẽB – μ plane are presented for different values of the diquark coupling.

In this work, we present a study on the interlayer tunneling spectroscopy (ITS) of mixed-phase BiSrCaCuO (BSCCO) superconducting whiskers. The tunneling experiments were carried out on the artificial cross-whisker (twist angle of 90°) junctions. A multiple superconducting energy gap in the cross-whisker junctions was observed, which is attributed to the presence of different doping levels of two Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ phases (Bi-2212), rather than two different phases, in the BSCCO whiskers, namely Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ and Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O8+δ (Bi-2212 and Bi-2223). The temperature dependence of the energy gaps was discussed in the framework of the BCS T-dependence. On the other hand, the carrier concentration of the cross-whisker junction was changed by the carrier injection process. The effects of the carrier injection on the critical current, I c, and the ITS of intrinsic Josephson junctions were investigated in details.

This book explains the theoretical background of superconductivity. Includes discussion of electricity, material fabrication, maglev trains, the superconducting supercollider, and Japanese-US competition. The authors reports the latest discoveries.

The superconducting critical temperature (Tc) of hole-doped cuprates tends to increase with their lattice complexity, which is generally correlated with higher states of oxidation. For YBa2Cu3O7 - δ (YBCO-123), it is known that solid-state reaction in high-pressure oxygen can induce the formation of more complex and oxidized phases such as Y2Ba4Cu7O15 - δ (YBCO-247) and Y2Ba4Cu8O16 (YBCO-248). In this work, we apply this superoxygenation concept of material synthesis to nanoscale thin films which, owing to their large surface-to-volume ratio, are more thermodynamically reactive than bulk samples. Epitaxial thin films of YBCO-123 were grown by pulsed laser deposition on (La , Sr) (Al , Ta) O3 substrates, and post-annealed in up to 500 atm of oxygen at 800C. Our post-annealed films show robust superconducting transitions with Tc ranging from 80 to 93K. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were used to probe the lattice structure and oxygen stoichiometry. Our measurements show clear evidence of conversion to YBCO-247 and YBCO-248 in the superoxygenated films, as well as YBCO-125, a novel YBCO phase that has three CuO chains per unit cell and potentially higher Tc. Work supported by NSERC, CFI/OIT, and CIFAR.

Kinetic-MHD hybrid simulations are carried out to investigate possible fast-ion-driven modes on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. Three typical kinds of fast-ion-driven modes, namely, toroidicity-induced Alfvén eigenmodes, reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes, and energetic-particle continuum modes, are observed simultaneously in the simulations. The simulation results are compared with the results of an ideal MHD eigenvalue code, which shows agreement with respect to the mode frequency, dominant poloidal mode numbers, and radial location. However, the modes in the hybrid simulations take a twisted structure on the poloidal plane, which is different from the results of the ideal MHD eigenvalue code. The twist is due to the radial phase variation of the eigenfunction, which may be attributed to the non-perturbative kinetic effects of the fast ions. By varying the stored energy of fast ions to change the fast ion drive in the simulations, it is demonstrated that the twist (i.e., the radial phase variation) is positively correlated with the fast ion drive.

Layered group-VI dichalcogenides, e.g., MoS2, are two dimensional materials that engender novel coupled spin and valley physics. Characterized by strong spin-orbit coupling and inversion symmetry breaking, they give rise to novel phenomena such as the spin Hall and valley Hall effect. In this talk, I focus on the intrinsic and substrate induced superconductingphases expected in this new class of materials. We will discuss the nature of the quasiparticles resulting from valley discriminating, pair breaking processes, and the effect of the BCS phase on the nature of opto-electronic coupling and nontrivial Berry curvature associated with the bands near each valley. We would like to acknowledge support from ARO W911NF1510079.

We theoretically put forward the concept of a phase-controlled superconducting heat-flux quantum modulator. Its operation relies on phase-dependent heat current predicted to occur in temperature-biased Josephson tunnel junctions. The device behavior is investigated as a function of temperature bias across the junctions, bath temperature, and junctions asymmetry as well. In a realistic Al-based setup the structure could provide temperature modulation amplitudes up to ˜50 mK with flux-to-temperature transfer coefficients exceeding ˜125 mK/Φ0 below 1 K, and temperature modulation frequency of the order of a few MHz. The proposed structure appears as a promising building-block for the implementation of caloritronic devices operating at cryogenic temperatures.

The phenomenon of Coherent Population Trapping (CPT) of an atom (or solid state ``artificial atom''), and the associated effect of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT), are clear demonstrations of quantum interference due to coherence in multi-level quantum systems. We report observation of CPT in a superconductingphase qubit by simultaneously driving two coherent transitions in a λ-type configuration, utilizing the three lowest lying levels of a local minimum of the phase qubit. We observe ˜60% suppression of excited state population under conditions of two-photon resonance, where EIT and CPT are expected to occur. We present data and matching theoretical simulations showing the development of CPT in time. We also used the observed time dependence of the excited state population to characterize quantum dephasing times of the system, as predicted in [1]. [1] K.V. Murali, Z. Dutton, W.D. Oliver, D.S. Crankshaw, and T.P.Orlando, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 087003 (2004).

We investigate the influences of the-applied-field phases and amplitudes on the coherent population trapping behavior in superconducting quantum circuits. Based on the interactions of the microwave fields with a single Δ-type three-level fluxonium qubit, the coherent population trapping could be obtainable and it is very sensitive to the relative phase and amplitudes of the applied fields. When the relative phase is tuned to 0 or π, the maximal atomic coherence is present and coherent population trapping occurs. While for the choice of π/2, the atomic coherence becomes weak. Meanwhile, for the fixed relative phase π/2, the value of coherence would decrease with the increase of Rabi frequency of the external field coupled with two lower levels. The responsible physical mechanism is quantum interference induced by the control fields, which is indicated in the dressed-state representation. The microwave coherent phenomenon is present in our scheme, which will have potential applications in optical communication and nonlinear optics in solid-state devices. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11165008 and 11365009), the Foundation of Young Scientist of Jiangxi Province, China (Grant No. 20142BCB23011), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education (Grant No. GJJ13348).

We propose a scheme for realizing a quantum controlled phase flip (CPF) gate between two distant nitrogen-vacancy-center spin ensembles (NVEs). The two NVEs couple magnetically with two inductively coupled superconducting flux qubits (FQs). By using an additional energy level of the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center, the CPF gate can be implemented within the null- and single-excitation subspaces and the external classical driven field is needless in our scheme. Because of the adoption of NVE instead of single NV center, the CPF operation can be greatly speeded up. Besides, we show that this gate provides us a source of cluster states generation on NVEs. Analyses on the influences of dissipation show that this gate is robust.

The subject of this report is a completed Phase II SBIR project to develop a superconducting analog multiplexer circuit. The intended application of the multiplexer is as a component of processing circuitry for a superconducting infrared focal plane array (IR FPA). Development of the IR FPA is in progress under a separate contract. Among the accomplishments that are described below is the fabrication and testing of a functioning, superconducting, 20-input multiplexer, appropriate for use with an IR FPA. The motivation for developing a superconducting multiplexer circuit derives primarily from the significant potential advantages of an all-superconducting IR FPA system, i.e. a system in which the detectors, as well as the associated processing circuitry, are superconducting. Section III of this report reviews the subject of superconducting IR FPAs. Chief among the advantages of such systems is the potential for larger arrays with greater numbers of detectors than is now possible.

A major issue in the understanding of cuprate superconductors is the nature of the metallic state from which high temperature superconductivity emerges. Central to this issue is the pseudogap region of the doping-temperature phase diagram that extends from room temperature to the superconducting transition. Although polarized neutron scattering studies hint at magnetic order associated with the pseudogap, there is no clear thermodynamic evidence for a phase boundary. Such evidence has a straightforward physical interpretation, however, it is difficult to obtain over a temperature range wide enough to encompass both the pseudogap and superconductingphases. We address this by measuring the elastic response of detwinned single crystals, an underdoped YBCO{sub 6.60} with superconducting transition at T{sub c} = 61.6K and a slightly overdoped YBCO{sub 6.98} with T{sub c} = 88.0K. We observe a discontinuity in the elastic moduli across the superconducting transition. Its magnitude requires that pair formation is coincident with superconducting coherence (the onset of the Meissner effect). For both crystals the elastic response reveals a phase transition at the pseudogap boundary. In slightly overdoped YBCO that transition is 20K below T{sub c}, extending the pseudogap phase boundary inside the superconducting dome. This supports a description of the metallic state in cuprates where a pseudogap phase boundary evolves into a quantum critical point masked by the superconducting dome.

We measured the superconducting transition temperature of 6Li between 16 and 26 GPa, and report the lightest system to exhibit superconductivity to date. The superconductingphase diagram of 6Li is compared with that of 7Li through simultaneous measurement in a diamond anvil cell (DAC). Below 21 GPa, Li exhibits a direct (the superconducting coefficient, α, Tc∝M−α, is positive), but unusually large isotope effect, whereas between 21 and 26 GPa, lithium shows an inverse superconducting isotope effect. The unusual dependence of the superconductingphase diagram of lithium on its atomic mass opens up the question of whether the lattice quantum dynamic effects dominate the low-temperature properties of dense lithium. PMID:25538300

In spite of the intensive, world-wide study of high temperature superconductors since their discovery ten years ago, the understanding of the microscopic mechanism of high temperature superconductivity is still limited. Phenomenologically, the hole concentration (P) is the most important parameter for manipulating the superconducting properties. Various physical properties have been established in terms of P to search for universal behaviors among the high-T_{c} cuprates. Recently, the phenomenon of clustering of holes in real space has been investigated for the high-T_ {c} cuprates, experimentally and theoretically. The realization of clustering of holes in the high- T_{c} cuprates will provide a new concept of the underlying electronic structure in them. In this work, we have studied the physical properties and behavior of phase separation for oxygenated rm La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO _{4+delta} (x = 0, 0.05; 0 < delta < 0.12), and compared the results to that of cation doped La_ {2-x}M_{x}CuO_4. We have, for the first time, synthesized two series of La_2CuO_{4+delta } (0 < delta < 0.12) and La_{1.95}Sr_{0.05 }CuO_{4+delta} (0 < delta <= 0.05) exhibiting consistent and reproducible physical properties. The results of this study show the following: (1) An anomalous electronic state with T_{c} ~ 15 K corresponding to P ~ 0.125 is found in both oxygenated La_2CuO _{4+delta} and La_{1.95}Sr_{0.05}CuO _{4+delta} systems. This indicates that all the T_{c } anomalies observed in cation doped La_{2-x}M_{x}CuO _4 and anion doped La_2CuO _{4+delta} are electronically driven and are of a common origin. (2) A two-superconductingphase region, T_{c} ~ 15 K and ~ 32 K, is found both in oxygenated La_2CuO _{4+delta} and La_{1.95}Sr_{0.05}CuO _{4+delta} in the same hole concentration range (P > 0.1) but in different oxygen concentration ranges. This indicates that the phase separation is electronically driven. (3) A universal physical picture in terms of phase separation and hole

Free-electron lasers (FELs) generate femtosecond XUV and X-ray pulses at peak powers in the gigawatt range. The FEL user facility FLASH at DESY (Hamburg, Germany) is driven by a superconducting linear accelerator with up to 8000 pulses per second. Since 2014, two parallel undulator beamlines, FLASH1 and FLASH2, have been in operation. In addition to the main undulator, the FLASH1 beamline is equipped with an undulator section, sFLASH, dedicated to research and development of fully coherent extreme ultraviolet photon pulses using external seed lasers. In this contribution, the first simultaneous lasing of the three FELs at 13.4 nm, 20 nm and 38.8 nm is presented. PMID:27577757

We report that the recent discovery of pressure (p) induced superconductivity in the binary helimagnet CrAs has raised questions on how superconductivity emerges from the magnetic state and on the mechanism of the superconducting pairing. In the present work the suppression of magnetism and the occurrence of superconductivity in CrAs were studied by means of muon spin rotation. The magnetism remains bulk up to p ≃ 3.5 kbar while its volume fraction gradually decreases with increasing pressure until it vanishes at p ≃ 7 kbar. At 3.5 kbar superconductivity abruptly appears with its maximum Tc ≃ 1.2 K which decreases upon increasing the pressure. In the intermediate pressure region (3.5≲ p ≲ 7 kbar) the superconducting and the magnetic volume fractions are spatially phase separated and compete for phase volume. Our results indicate that the less conductive magnetic phase provides additional carriers (doping) to the superconducting parts of the CrAs sample thus leading to an increase of the transition temperature (Tc) and of the superfluid density (ρs). A scaling of ρs with Tc3.2 as well as the phase separation between magnetism and superconductivity point to a conventional mechanism of the Cooper-pairing in CrAs.

The recent discovery of pressure (p) induced superconductivity in the binary helimagnet CrAs has raised questions on how superconductivity emerges from the magnetic state and on the mechanism of the superconducting pairing. In the present work the suppression of magnetism and the occurrence of superconductivity in CrAs were studied by means of muon spin rotation. The magnetism remains bulk up to p ≃ 3.5 kbar while its volume fraction gradually decreases with increasing pressure until it vanishes at p ≃ 7 kbar. At 3.5 kbar superconductivity abruptly appears with its maximum Tc ≃ 1.2 K which decreases upon increasing the pressure. In the intermediate pressure region (3.5 < or ~ p < or ~ 7 kbar) the superconducting and the magnetic volume fractions are spatially phase separated and compete for phase volume. Our results indicate that the less conductive magnetic phase provides additional carriers (doping) to the superconducting parts of the CrAs sample thus leading to an increase of the transition temperature (Tc) and of the superfluid density (ρs). A scaling of ρs with Tc(3.2) as well as the phase separation between magnetism and superconductivity point to a conventional mechanism of the Cooper-pairing in CrAs. PMID:26346548

The recent discovery of pressure (p) induced superconductivity in the binary helimagnet CrAs has raised questions on how superconductivity emerges from the magnetic state and on the mechanism of the superconducting pairing. In the present work the suppression of magnetism and the occurrence of superconductivity in CrAs were studied by means of muon spin rotation. The magnetism remains bulk up to p 3.5 kbar while its volume fraction gradually decreases with increasing pressure until it vanishes at p 7 kbar. At 3.5 kbar superconductivity abruptly appears with its maximum Tc 1.2 K which decreases upon increasing the pressure. In the intermediate pressure region (3.5 p 7 kbar) the superconducting and the magnetic volume fractions are spatially phase separated and compete for phase volume. Our results indicate that the less conductive magnetic phase provides additional carriers (doping) to the superconducting parts of the CrAs sample thus leading to an increase of the transition temperature (Tc) and of the superfluid density (ρs). A scaling of ρs with as well as the phase separation between magnetism and superconductivity point to a conventional mechanism of the Cooper-pairing in CrAs. PMID:26346548

We report that the recent discovery of pressure (p) induced superconductivity in the binary helimagnet CrAs has raised questions on how superconductivity emerges from the magnetic state and on the mechanism of the superconducting pairing. In the present work the suppression of magnetism and the occurrence of superconductivity in CrAs were studied by means of muon spin rotation. The magnetism remains bulk up to p ≃ 3.5 kbar while its volume fraction gradually decreases with increasing pressure until it vanishes at p ≃ 7 kbar. At 3.5 kbar superconductivity abruptly appears with its maximum Tc ≃ 1.2 K which decreasesmore » upon increasing the pressure. In the intermediate pressure region (3.5≲ p ≲ 7 kbar) the superconducting and the magnetic volume fractions are spatially phase separated and compete for phase volume. Our results indicate that the less conductive magnetic phase provides additional carriers (doping) to the superconducting parts of the CrAs sample thus leading to an increase of the transition temperature (Tc) and of the superfluid density (ρs). A scaling of ρs with Tc3.2 as well as the phase separation between magnetism and superconductivity point to a conventional mechanism of the Cooper-pairing in CrAs.« less

A series of high-pressure electrical resistivity measurements on single crystals of TbTe3 reveal a complex phase diagram involving the interplay of superconducting, antiferromagnetic and charge-density-wave order. The onset of superconductivity reaches a maximum of almost 4 K (onset) near approximately 12.4 GPa. PMID:19518815

Dephasing and decay are the intrinsic dissipative processes prevalent in any open quantum system and the dominant mechanisms for the loss of coherence and entanglement. This inadvertent effect not only can be overcome but can even be capitalized on in a dissipative quantum simulation by means of tailored couplings between the quantum system and the environment. In this context it has been demonstrated that universal quantum computation can be performed using purely dissipative elements, and furthermore, the efficient preparation of highly entangled states is possible. In this article, we are interested in nonequilibrium phase transitions appearing in purely dissipative systems and the exploration of quantum phases in terms of a dissipative quantum simulation. To elucidate these concepts, we scrutinize exemplarily two paradigmatic models: the transverse-field Ising model and the considerably more complex Z2 lattice gauge theory. We show that the nonequilibrium phase diagrams parallel the quantum phase diagrams of the Hamiltonian "blueprint" theories.

Control system for three-phase permanent-magnet motor driven by linecommutated inverter uses signals generated by integrating back emf of each phase of motor. High-pass filter network eliminates low-frequency components from control loop while maintaining desired power factor.

Laser-driven shocks are successfully used to density high-temperature superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 ceramic powders. Pressures of 10 GPa on a nanosecond time scale were generated by producing a confined plasma with a high-intensity laser pulse. Significant consolidation is generated up to 300 microns below the irradiated surface. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that the pinning of the intergranular vortices is strongly affected by the shock propagation. Recovery of superconductivity in compacted material is obtained with a postshock oxygen annealing.

We carry out driven-diffusion Monte Carlo simulations of the two-dimensional classical lattice Coulomb gas in an applied uniform electric field, as a model for vortex motion due to an applied dc current in a periodic superconducting network. A finite-size version of dynamic scaling is used to extract the dynamic critical exponent [ital z], and infer the nonlinear response at the transition temperature. We consider the Coulomb gases [ital f]=0 and [ital f]=1/2, corresponding to a superconducting network with an applied transverse magnetic field of zero, and one-half flux quantum per unit cell, respectively.

In a collisionless, unbounded, one-dimensional plasma, modelled using periodic boundary conditions, formation of steady state phase space coherent structures or phase space vortices (PSV) is investigated. Using a high resolution one-dimensional Vlasov-Poisson solver based on piecewise-parabolic advection scheme, the formation of giant PSV is addressed numerically. For an infinitesimal external drive amplitude and wavenumber k, we demonstrate the existence of a window of chirped external drive frequency that leads to the formation of giant PSV. The linear, small amplitude, external drive, when chirped, is shown to couple effectively to the plasma and increase both streaming of "untrapped" and "trapped" particle fraction. The steady state attained after the external drive is turned off and is shown to lead to a giant PSV with multiple extrema and phase velocities, with excess density fraction, defined as the deviation from the Maxwellian background, Δ n / n 0 ≃ 20 % - 25 % . It is shown that the process depends on the chirp time duration Δt. The excess density fraction Δn/n0, which contains both trapped and untrapped particle contribution, is also seen to scale with Δt, only inhibited by the gradient of the distribution in velocity space. Both single step drive and multistep chirp processes are shown to lead to steady state giant PSV, with multiple extrema due to embedded holes and clumps, long after the external drive is turned off.

With the increase of magnetic field or the decrease of sample thickness, homogeneously disordered superconducting Ta films undergo a superconductor-metal-insulator phase transition. Each phase displays remarkably different nonlinear current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. The evolution of the nonlinear transport in the insulating phase exhibits a non-monotonic behavior as the magnetic field is increased, which could be evidence of the presence of localized Cooper pairs in the insulating phase. As the metallic phase intervenes the superconducting and insulating states in Ta films, we further suggest that Cooper pairs also exist in the metallic ground state. Data acquisition for this work was completed at the University of Virginia.

We examine driven dislocation assemblies and show that they can exhibit a set of dynamical phases remarkably similar to those of driven systems with quenched disorder such as vortices in superconductors, magnetic domain walls, and charge density wave materials. These phases include pinned-jammed, fluctuating, and dynamically ordered states, and each produces distinct dislocation patterns as well as specific features in the noise fluctuations and transport properties. Lastly, our work suggests that many of the results established for systems with quenched disorder undergoing plastic depinning transitions can be applied to dislocation systems, providing a new approach for understanding pattern formation and dynamics in these systems.

We examine driven dislocation assemblies and show that they can exhibit a set of dynamical phases remarkably similar to those of driven systems with quenched disorder such as vortices in superconductors, magnetic domain walls, and charge density wave materials. These phases include pinned-jammed, fluctuating, and dynamically ordered states, and each produces distinct dislocation patterns as well as specific features in the noise fluctuations and transport properties. Lastly, our work suggests that many of the results established for systems with quenched disorder undergoing plastic depinning transitions can be applied to dislocation systems, providing a new approach for understanding pattern formation andmore » dynamics in these systems.« less

We examine driven dislocation assemblies and show that they can exhibit a set of dynamical phases remarkably similar to those of driven systems with quenched disorder such as vortices in superconductors, magnetic domain walls, and charge density wave materials. These phases include pinned-jammed, fluctuating, and dynamically ordered states, and each produces distinct dislocation patterns as well as specific features in the noise fluctuations and transport properties. Our work suggests that many of the results established for systems with quenched disorder undergoing plastic depinning transitions can be applied to dislocation systems, providing a new approach for understanding pattern formation and dynamics in these systems. PMID:25613839

We examine driven dislocation assemblies and show that they can exhibit a set of dynamical phases remarkably similar to those of driven systems with quenched disorder such as vortices in superconductors, magnetic domain walls, and charge density wave materials. These phases include pinned-jammed, fluctuating, and dynamically ordered states, and each produces distinct dislocation patterns as well as specific features in the noise fluctuations and transport properties. Our work suggests that many of the results established for systems with quenched disorder undergoing plastic depinning transitions can be applied to dislocation systems, providing a new approach for understanding pattern formation and dynamics in these systems.

The effect of Coulomb interaction between Dirac fermions on the formation of the Kohn-Luttinger superconducting state in bilayer doped graphene is studied disregarding of the effect of the van der Waals potential of the substrate and impurities. The phase diagram determining the boundaries of superconductive domains with different types of symmetry of the order parameter is built using the extended Hubbard model in the Born weak-coupling approximation with allowance for the intratomic, interatomic, and interlayer Coulomb interactions between electrons. It is shown that the Kohn-Luttinger polarization contributions up to the second order of perturbation theory in the Coulomb interaction inclusively and an account for the long-range intraplane Coulomb interactions significantly affect the competition between the superconductingphases with the f-, p + ip-, and d + id-wave symmetries of the order parameter. It is demonstrated that the account for the interlayer Coulomb interaction enhances the critical temperature of the transition to the superconductingphase.

In this paper a short historical account of the discovery of superconductivity and of its gradual development is given. The physical interpretation of its various aspects took about forty years (from 1911 to 1957) to reach a successful description of this phenomenon in terms of a microscopic theory At the very end it seemed that more or less everything could be reasonably interpreted even if modifications and refinements of the original theory were necessary. In 1986 the situation changed abruptly when a cautious but revolutionary paper appeared showing that superconductivity was found in certain ceramic oxides at temperatures above those up to then known. A rush of frantic experimental activity started world-wide and in less than one year it was shown that superconductivity is a much more widespread phenomenon than deemed before and can be found at temperatures well above the liquid air boiling point. The complexity and the number of the substances (mainly ceramic oxides) involved call for a sort of modern alchemy if compounds with the best superconducting properties are to be manufactured. We don't use the word alchemy in a deprecatory sense but just to emphasise that till now nobody can say why these compounds are what they are: superconductors.

The recent report of superconductivity under high pressure at the record transition temperature of Tc =203 K in pressurized H2S has been identified as conventional in view of the observation of an isotope effect upon deuteration. Here it is demonstrated that conventional theories of superconductivity in the sense of BCS or Eliashberg formalisms cannot account for the pressure dependence of the isotope coefficient. The only way out of the dilemma is a multi-band approach of superconductivity where already small interband coupling suffices to achieve the high values of Tc together with the anomalous pressure dependent isotope coefficient. In addition, it is shown that anharmonicity of the hydrogen bonds vanishes under pressure whereas anharmonic phonon modes related to sulfur are still active.

The Kondo effect is a many-body phenomenon that screens the magnetic moment of an impurity in a metal. The associated singlet state can be probed in a single impurity by electronic transport in a quantum dot (QD), here made of a carbon nanotube (CNT), which provides a localized electron between the two contacts. Using superconducting leads, one can investigate the competition between the Kondo effect and the superconductivity induced in the CNT. The superconductivity can destroy the Kondo singlet in favor of a magnetic doublet, leading to a sign reversal of the supercurrent in the S-CNT-S junction. This singlet-doublet transition depends on the Kondo temperature and the superconducting gap, as well as the position of the impurity level. We demonstrate experimentally that the superconductingphase difference across the QD can also control this magnetic transition. We use the measurement of the relation between the supercurrent and this superconductingphase as a tool to probe the transition. We show that it has a distinctly anharmonic behavior, that reveals the phase-mediated singlet to doublet transition, in good agreement with finite temperature quantum Monte Carlo calculations. We extract as well a phase diagram of the phase-controlled quantum transition at zero temperature.

This paper describes a procedure to set the phase and amplitude of the RF fields in the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) linac's superconducting cavities. The linac uses superconducting cavities to accelerate the H{sup -} ion beam from the normal conducting linac at 185 MeV to a final energy of {approx}1 GeV. There are two types of cavities in the linac, 33 cavities with a geometric beta of 0.61 and 48 cavities with a geometric beta of 0.81. The correct phase setting of any single superconducting cavity depends on the RF phase and amplitude of all the preceding superconducting cavities. For the beam to be properly accelerated it must arrive at each cavity with a relative phase ({phi}{sub s}), called the synchronous phase, of about -20 degrees. That is, it must arrive early with respect to the phase at which it would gain the maximum energy by 20 degrees. This timing provides the longitudinal focusing. Beam particles arriving slightly later gain more energy and move faster relative to the synchronous beam particle. The problem is to set the phase and amplitude of each cavity in the linac so that the synchronous particle arrives at each cavity with the correct phase. The amplitude of each superconducting cavity will be adjusted as high as possible constrained only by the available RF power and the breakdown field of the cavity.

Computer Aided Diagnostic (CAD) systems are already of proven value in healthcare, especially for surgical planning, nevertheless much remains to be done. Gliomas are the most common brain tumours (70%) in adults, with a survival time of just 2-3 months if detected at WHO grades III or higher. Such tumours are extremely variable, necessitating multi-modal Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI). The use of Gadolinium-based contrast agents is only relevant at later stages of the disease where it highlights the enhancing rim of the tumour. Currently, there is no single accepted method that can be used as a reference. There are three main challenges with such images: to decide whether there is tumour present and is so localize it; to construct a mask that separates healthy and diseased tissue; and to differentiate between the tumour core and the surrounding oedema. This paper presents two contributions. First, we develop tumour seed selection based on multiscale multi-modal texture feature vectors. Second, we develop a method based on a local phase congruency based feature map to drive level-set segmentation. The segmentations achieved with our method are more accurate than previously presented methods, particularly for challenging low grade tumours.

We propose a general scheme for diagnosing interaction-driven topological phases in the weak interaction regime using exact diagonalization (ED). The scheme comprises the analysis of eigenvalues of the point-group operators for the many-body eigenstates and the correlation functions for physical observables to extract the symmetries of the order parameters and the topological numbers of the underlying ground states at the thermodynamic limit from a relatively small size system afforded by ED. As a concrete example, we investigate the interaction effects on the half-filled spinless fermions on the checkerboard lattice with a quadratic band crossing point. Numerical results support the existence of a spontaneous quantum anomalous Hall phase purely driven by a nearest-neighbor weak repulsive interaction, separated from a nematic Mott insulator phase at strong repulsive interaction by a first-order phase transition. PMID:27541471

We propose a general scheme for diagnosing interaction-driven topological phases in the weak interaction regime using exact diagonalization (ED). The scheme comprises the analysis of eigenvalues of the point-group operators for the many-body eigenstates and the correlation functions for physical observables to extract the symmetries of the order parameters and the topological numbers of the underlying ground states at the thermodynamic limit from a relatively small size system afforded by ED. As a concrete example, we investigate the interaction effects on the half-filled spinless fermions on the checkerboard lattice with a quadratic band crossing point. Numerical results support the existence of a spontaneous quantum anomalous Hall phase purely driven by a nearest-neighbor weak repulsive interaction, separated from a nematic Mott insulator phase at strong repulsive interaction by a first-order phase transition.

In classical superconductors an energy gap and phase coherence appear simultaneously with pairing at the transition to the superconducting state. In high-temperature superconductors, the possibility that pairing and phase coherence are distinct and independent processes has led to intense experimental search of their separate manifestations. Using femtosecond spectroscopy methods we now show that it is possible to clearly separate fluctuation dynamics of the superconducting pairing amplitude from the phase relaxation above the critical transition temperature. Empirically establishing a close correspondence between the superfluid density measured by THz spectroscopy and superconducting optical pump-probe response over a wide region of temperature, we find that in differently doped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ crystals the pairing gap amplitude monotonically extends well beyond Tc, while the phase coherence shows a pronounced power-law divergence as T → Tc, thus showing that phase coherence and gap formation are distinct processes which occur on different timescales. PMID:25014162

This article presents results of solid-liquid phase change, the Stefan Problem, where melting is driven internal heat generation, in a cylindrical geometry. The comparison between a quasi-static analytical solution for Stefan numbers less than one and numerical solutions shows good agreement. The computational results of phase change with internal heat generation show how convection cells form in the liquid region. A scale analysis of the same problem shows four distinct regions of the melting process.

We consider topological phases in periodically driven (Floquet) systems exhibiting many-body localization, protected by a symmetry G . We argue for a general correspondence between such phases and topological phases of undriven systems protected by symmetry Z ⋊G where the additional Z accounts for the discrete time-translation symmetry. Thus, for example, the bosonic phases in d spatial dimensions without intrinsic topological order [symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases] are classified by the cohomology group Hd +1[Z ⋊G ,U (1 ) ] . For unitary symmetries, we interpret the additional resulting Floquet phases in terms of the lower-dimensional SPT phases that are pumped to the boundary during one time step. These results also imply the existence of novel symmetry-enriched topological (SET) orders protected solely by the periodicity of the drive.

We construct a theory of dynamical behavior in intrinsic Josephson junction stacks with multigap superconducting layers. The theory predicts the existence of two kinds of phase modes, one of which is the Josephson-plasma mode and other of which is the Leggett’s mode. We discuss a cooperative phenomena induced by inter-band Josephson coupling in addition to capacitive and inductive couplings between the superconducting layers.

We investigate the pressure and temperature dependence of the lattice dynamics of the underdoped, stoichiometric, high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu4O8 by means of Raman spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. This system undergoes a reversible pressure-induced structural phase transition around 10 GPa to a collapsed orthorhombic structure that is well reproduced by the calculation. The coupling of the B1g-like buckling phonon mode to the electronic continuum is used to probe superconductivity. In the low pressure phase, self-energy effects through the superconducting transition renormalize this phonon, and the amplitude of this renormalization strongly increases with pressure. Whereas our calculation indicates that this mode's coupling to the electronic system is only marginally affected by the structural phase transition, the aforementioned renormalization is completely suppressed in the high pressure phase, demonstrating that under hydrostatic pressures higher than 10 GPa, superconductivity in YBa2Cu4O8 is greatly weakened or obliterated.

Booster linacs for tandem accelerators and positive ion superconducting injectors have matured into standard features of many accelerator laboratories. Both types of linac are formed as an array of independently-phased resonators operating at room temperature or in a superconducting state. Each accelerating resonator needs to be individually set in phase and amplitude for optimum acceleration efficiency. The modularity of the linac allows the velocity profile along the structure to be tailored to accommodate a wide range charge to mass ratio. The linac setup procedure, described in this paper, utilizes a superconducting resonator operating in a beam bunch phase detection mode. The main objective was to derive the full set of phase distributions for quick and efficient tuning of the entire accelerator. The phase detector was operated in overcoupling mode in order to minimize de-tuning effects of microphonic background. A mathematical expression was derived to set a limit on resonator maximum accelerating field during the crossover search to enable extracting unambiguous beam phase data. A set of equations was obtained to calculate the values of beam phase advance and energy gain produced by accelerating resonators. An extensive range of linac setting up configurations was conducted to validate experimental procedures and analytical models. The main application of a superconductingphase detector is for fast tuning for beams of ultralow intensities, in particular in the straight section of linac facilities.

Stabilizing superconductivity at high temperatures and elucidating its mechanism have long been major challenges of materials research in condensed matter physics. Meanwhile, recent progress in nanostructuring offers unprecedented possibilities for designing novel functionalities. Above all, thin films of cuprate and iron-based high-temperature superconductors exhibit remarkably better superconducting characteristics (for example, higher critical temperatures) than in the bulk, but the underlying mechanism is still not understood. Solving microscopic models suitable for cuprates, we demonstrate that, at an interface between a Mott insulator and an overdoped nonsuperconducting metal, the superconducting amplitude is always pinned at the optimum achieved in the bulk, independently of the carrier concentration in the metal. This is in contrast to the dome-like dependence in bulk superconductors but consistent with the astonishing independence of the critical temperature from the carrier density x observed at the interfaces of La2CuO4 and La2-x Sr x CuO4. Furthermore, we identify a self-organization mechanism as responsible for the pinning at the optimum amplitude: An emergent electronic structure induced by interlayer phase separation eludes bulk phase separation and inhomogeneities that would kill superconductivity in the bulk. Thus, interfaces provide an ideal tool to enhance and stabilize superconductivity. This interfacial example opens up further ways of shaping superconductivity by suppressing competing instabilities, with direct perspectives for designing devices. PMID:27482542

Stabilizing superconductivity at high temperatures and elucidating its mechanism have long been major challenges of materials research in condensed matter physics. Meanwhile, recent progress in nanostructuring offers unprecedented possibilities for designing novel functionalities. Above all, thin films of cuprate and iron-based high-temperature superconductors exhibit remarkably better superconducting characteristics (for example, higher critical temperatures) than in the bulk, but the underlying mechanism is still not understood. Solving microscopic models suitable for cuprates, we demonstrate that, at an interface between a Mott insulator and an overdoped nonsuperconducting metal, the superconducting amplitude is always pinned at the optimum achieved in the bulk, independently of the carrier concentration in the metal. This is in contrast to the dome-like dependence in bulk superconductors but consistent with the astonishing independence of the critical temperature from the carrier density x observed at the interfaces of La2CuO4 and La2−xSrxCuO4. Furthermore, we identify a self-organization mechanism as responsible for the pinning at the optimum amplitude: An emergent electronic structure induced by interlayer phase separation eludes bulk phase separation and inhomogeneities that would kill superconductivity in the bulk. Thus, interfaces provide an ideal tool to enhance and stabilize superconductivity. This interfacial example opens up further ways of shaping superconductivity by suppressing competing instabilities, with direct perspectives for designing devices. PMID:27482542

Recent experimental and theoretical interest in the superconductingphase of the heavy-fermion material URu2Si2 has led to a number of proposals in which the superconducting order parameter breaks time-reversal symmetry (TRS). In this study we measure the polar Kerr effect (PKE) as a function of temperature for several high-quality single crystals of URu2Si2 . We find an onset of PKE below the superconducting transition that is consistent with a TRS-breaking order parameter. This effect appears to be independent of an additional, possibly extrinsic, PKE generated above the hidden order transition at THO=17.5 K, and contains a structure below Tc suggestive of additional physics within the superconducting state.

A continuum model for the phase separation and coarsening in electrostatically driven granular media is formulated in terms of a Ginzburg-Landau equation subject to conservation of the total number of grains. In the regime of well-developed clusters, the continuum model is used to derive 'sharp-interface' equations that govern the dynamics of the interphase boundary. The model captures the essential physics of this system.

We study the collective dynamics of a driven two-mode Bose-Hubbard model in the Josephson interaction regime. The classical phase space is mixed, with chaotic and regular components, which determine the dynamical nature of the fringe visibility. For a weak off-resonant drive, where the chaotic component is small, the many-body dynamics corresponds to that of a Kapitza pendulum, with the relative phase {phi} between the condensates playing the role of the pendulum angle. Using a master equation approach we show that the modulation of the intersite potential barrier stabilizes the {phi}={pi} 'inverted pendulum' coherent state, and protects the fringe visibility.

The pseudogap in underdoped cuprates leads to significant changes in the electronic structure, and was later found to be accompanied by anomalous fluctuations of superconductivity and certain lattice phonons. Here we propose that the Fermi surface breakup due to the pseudogap, leads to a breakup of the pairing order into two weakly coupled sub-band amplitudes, and a concomitant low energy Leggett mode due to phase fluctuations between them. This increases the temperature range of superconducting fluctuations containing an overdamped Leggett mode. In this range inter-sub-band phonons show strong damping due to resonant scattering into an intermediate state with a pairmore » of overdamped Leggett modes. In the ordered state, the Leggett mode develops a finite energy, changing the anomalous phonon damping into an anomaly in the dispersion. Finally, this proposal explains the intrinsic connection between the anomalous pseudogap phase, enhanced superconducting fluctuations and giant anomalies in the phonon spectra.« less

The pseudogap in underdoped cuprates leads to significant changes in the electronic structure, and was later found to be accompanied by anomalous fluctuations of superconductivity and certain lattice phonons. Here we propose that the Fermi surface breakup due to the pseudogap, leads to a breakup of the pairing order into two weakly coupled sub-band amplitudes, and a concomitant low energy Leggett mode due to phase fluctuations between them. This increases the temperature range of superconducting fluctuations containing an overdamped Leggett mode. In this range inter-sub-band phonons show strong damping due to resonant scattering into an intermediate state with a pair of overdamped Leggett modes. In the ordered state, the Leggett mode develops a finite energy, changing the anomalous phonon damping into an anomaly in the dispersion. This proposal explains the intrinsic connection between the anomalous pseudogap phase, enhanced superconducting fluctuations and giant anomalies in the phonon spectra. PMID:26785835

In the Ta-B binary system the TaB phase crystallizes in the orthorhombic symmetry with CrB prototype structure which displays superconducting critical temperature close to 4.0 K. To our knowledge this binary phase (CrB prototype structure) is a just stable phase in all temperature range. In this work we will show that the substitution of Ta for Hf it is able to produce a allotropic transformation from CrB to FeB prototype structure. These results represent a new pseudo-ternary phase in the Ta - Hf -B system which is stable in high temperature. The phase found in this work present superconducting critical temperature close to 6.9 K which is sustained by specific heat, magnetization and resistivity measurements.

The complex interdigitated phases have greatly frustrated attempts to document the basic features of the superconductivity in the alkali metal intercalated iron chalcogenides. Here, using elastic neutron scattering, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and resistivity measurements, we elucidate the relations of these phases in RbxFeySe2 -zSz . We find (i) the iron content is crucial in stabilizing the stripe antiferromagnetic (AF) phase with rhombic iron vacancy order (y ≈1.5 ) , the block AF phase with √{5 }×√{5 } iron vacancy order (y ≈1.6 ) , and the iron vacancy-free phase (y ≈2 ) ; and (ii) the iron vacancy-free superconductingphase (z =0 ) evolves into an iron vacancy-free metallic phase with sulfur substitution (z >1.5 ) due to the progressive decrease of the electronic correlation strength. Both the stripe AF phase and the block AF phase are Mott insulators. The iron-rich compounds (y >1.6 ) undergo a first order transition from an iron vacancy disordered phase at high temperatures into the √{5 }×√{5 } iron vacancy ordered phase and the iron vacancy-free phase below Ts. Our data demonstrate that there are miscibility gaps between these three phases. The existence of the miscibility gaps in the iron content is a key to understanding the relationship between these complicated phases.

The focus of this review is the effect of H2O on the electron-driven chemistry of condensed halogenated compounds. We present data with emphasis on results from the authors' laboratories for halomethanes (CF2Cl2, CCl4, CH3I, CDCl3, CD2Cl2) and SF6. The halogenated species are suspended in or adsorbed on the surface of ultrathin films of amorphous solid water (ice) condensed on metal surfaces. Bombardment of the film by X-rays or energetic electrons leads to the release of low-energy secondary electrons; these are responsible for much of the rich electron-driven chemistry, which includes molecular decomposition, desorption of charged and neutral fragments, radical formation, anion solvation, and condensed-phase reactions. Potential implications of this work range from environmental remediation of toxic compounds to atmospheric ozone depletion.

The ubiquity of the bosonic Cooper Pair Insulator (CPI) phase near the two-dimensional superconductor to insulator transition (SIT) is a long standing question. While a number of two dimensional materials exhibit bosonic insulating phases similar to the Mott Insulator in arrays of ultrasmall, Josephson coupled superconducting islands, others show behaviors consistent with a fermionic insulating phase. Utilizing specially prepared anodized aluminum oxide substrates, we are able to fabricate films reminiscent of arrays of superconducting islands whose properties are tunable by varying the substrate morphology. Our recent work has focused on arrays of islands which possess an energy level spacing comparable to the mean field superconducting gap, where one expects pair breaking followed by fermionic Anderson Localization as the dominant mechanism by which superconductivity is destroyed. Early results show that the paradigmatic bosonic insulator exists only very near the disorder tuned SIT, while films only marginally deeper in the insulating phase exhibit transport distinct from the CPI's reentrant, activated transport. We are grateful for the support of NSF Grant No. DMR-1307290, the AFOSR, and the AOARD. Currently at Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xian, China.

We have performed series of neutron scattering experiments on MnP. MnP has been investigated for decades because of its rich magnetic phase diagram. The magnetic structure of MnP is ferromagnetic (FM) below TC = 291 K. It transforms into a helimagnetic structure at TS = 47 K with a propagation vector q = 0 . 117a* . Superconductivity was found in MnP under pressures of 8 GPa with a TSC around 1 K by J.-G. Cheng. Since Mn-based superconductors are rare, and the superconductingphase occurs in the vicinity of FM, new magnetic and helimagnetic phases, there is a need to understand how the magnetism evolves as one approach the superconducting state. MnP is believed to be a double helix magnetic structure at TS = 47 K. We observed new 2 δ and 3 δ satellite peaks whose intensity are 200 ~ 1000 times smaller than these of 1 δ satellite peaks on the cold triple axis spectrometer SIKA under zero magnetic fields. We also found the periods of helimagnetic structure changes as a function of temperature. If time permits, we will discuss recent experiments under pressure. However, we have complete picture of magnetic structure of this system with and without applied pressure, revealing the interplay between the magnetic and superconductingphases.

We study the two-dimensional Kondo lattice model with an additional Heisenberg exchange between localized spins. In a first step, we use mean-field theory with two order parameters. The first order parameter is a complex pairing amplitude between conduction electrons and localized spins that describes condensation of Kondo (or Zhang-Rice) singlets. A nonvanishing value implies that the localized spins contribute to the Fermi surface volume. The second-order parameter describes singlet pairing between the localized spins and competes with the Kondo-pairing order parameter. Reduction of the carrier density in the conduction band reduces the energy gain due to the formation of the large Fermi surface and induces a phase transition to a state with strong singlet correlations between the localized spins and a Fermi surface that comprises only the conduction electrons. The model thus shows a doping driven change of its Fermi surface volume. At intermediate doping and low temperature, there is a phase where both order parameters coexist, which has a gapped large Fermi surface and dx2-y2 superconductivity. The theory thus qualitatively reproduces the phase diagram of cuprate superconductors. In the second part of this paper, we show how the two phases with different Fermi surface volume emerge in a strong-coupling theory applicable in the limit of large Kondo exchange. The large Fermi surface phase corresponds to a “vacuum” of localized Kondo singlets with uniform phase, and the quasiparticles are spin-1/2 charge fluctuations around this fully paired state. In the small Fermi surface phase, the quasiparticles correspond to propagating Kondo singlets or triplets whereby the phase of a given Kondo singlet corresponds to its momentum. In this picture, a phase transition occurs for low filling of the conduction band as well.

We present a new scenario for the cooling of compact stars considering the central source of Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The Cas A observation shows that the central source is a compact star that has high effective temperature, and it is consistent with the cooling without exotic phases. The observation also gives the mass range of M {>=} 1.5 M {sub Sun }, which may conflict with the current plausible cooling scenario of compact stars. There are some cooled compact stars such as Vela or 3C58, which can barely be explained by the minimal cooling scenario, which includes the neutrino emission by nucleon superfluidity (PBF). Therefore, we invoke the exotic cooling processes, where a heavier star cools faster than lighter one. However, the scenario seems to be inconsistent with the observation of Cas A. Therefore, we present a new cooling scenario to explain the observation of Cas A by constructing models that include a quark color superconducting (CSC) phase with a large energy gap; this phase appears at ultrahigh density regions and reduces neutrino emissivity. In our model, a compact star has a CSC quark core with a low neutrino emissivity surrounded by high emissivity region made by normal quarks. We present cooling curves obtained from the evolutionary calculations of compact stars: while heavier stars cool slowly, and lighter ones indicate the opposite tendency without considering nucleon superfluidity. Furthermore, we show that our scenario is consistent with the recent observations of the effective temperature of Cas A during the last 10 years, including nucleon superfluidity.

We discover a topological phase transition between conventional s+- and s++ superconductingphases by tuning the ratio of electron--electron and electron--phonon coupling constants in an FeAs-type two-band structure. Proving the existence of this unexpected quantum criticality within the mean-field theory, we propose that the quantum critical point be identified with a critical spin liquid state of an ``extended'' Dirac spectrum, where critical superconducting fluctuations cause screening of charge degrees of freedom for electronic excitations, which allows spinon excitations to carry only the spin quantum number 1/2. The emergence of the critical spin liquid state at the s+--s++ superconducting quantum critical point leads us to predict a metal--insulator--metal crossover behavior in electrical resistivity above the superconducting transition temperatures as the ratio of the electron--electron and electron--phonon coupling constants is increased. In addition, we uncover that the competition between electron--electron repulsion and electron--phonon attraction gives rise to a huge enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature near the quantum critical point which is several hundreds percent larger than that of the case when only one of the two is taken into account. Our renormalization group analysis claims that this mechanism for the enhancement of the critical temperature is not limited to superconductivity but can be applied to various Fermi surface instabilities, proposing an underlying universal structure, which turns out to be essentially identical to that of a recent study [Phys. Rev. Lett. 108 (2012) 046601] on the enhancement of the Kondo temperature in the presence of Rashba spin--orbit interaction. We speculate that the existence of this possible ``deconfined'' quantum criticality can be verified not only theoretically but also experimentally, particularly, in Li2(Pd1-xPtx)3B superconductors, varying x from 0 to 1.

A detailed understanding of the physics of the cuprate superconductors relies on an experimental determination of the thermodynamic phase diagram. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) is a unique thermodynamic probe, capable of measuring part per million changes in elastic moduli, and has access to symmetry information. Here we present a symmetry analysis of changes in the elastic moduli across the superconducting and psedogap phase boundaries in several classes of cuprates: YBCO, LSCO, Hg-1201, and Tl-2201.

Nb3Sn based multi-filamentary superconducting wires with critical temperature (Tc) of 17.5 K was indigenously developed. A critical temperature (Tc) of 17.5 K was obtained. Characterization of the microstructure of the wires revealed almost complete conversion of the Nb filaments to Nb3Sn phase. The phase formed was nano-crystalline in nature and was slight hypo-stoichiometric with respect to Sn.

Recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity (Tc = 190 K) in sulfur hydrides at megabar pressures breaks the traditional belief on the Tc limit of 40 K for conventional superconductors, and opens up the doors in searching new high-temperature superconductors in compounds made up of light elements. Selenium is a sister and isoelectronic element of sulfur, with a larger atomic core and a weaker electronegativity. Whether selenium hydrides share similar high-temperature superconductivity remains elusive, but it is a subject of considerable interest. First-principles swarm structure predictions are performed in an effort to seek for energetically stable and metallic selenium hydrides at high pressures. We find the phase diagram of selenium hydrides is rather different from its sulfur analogy, which is indicated by the emergence of new phases and the change of relative stabilities. Three stable and metallic species with stoichiometries of HSe2, HSe and H3Se are identified above ~120 GPa and they all exhibit superconductive behaviors, of which the hydrogen-rich HSe and H3Se phases show high Tc in the range of 40-110 K. Our simulations established the high-temperature superconductive nature of selenium hydrides and provided useful route for experimental verification. PMID:26490223

Recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity (Tc = 190 K) in sulfur hydrides at megabar pressures breaks the traditional belief on the Tc limit of 40 K for conventional superconductors, and opens up the doors in searching new high-temperature superconductors in compounds made up of light elements. Selenium is a sister and isoelectronic element of sulfur, with a larger atomic core and a weaker electronegativity. Whether selenium hydrides share similar high-temperature superconductivity remains elusive, but it is a subject of considerable interest. First-principles swarm structure predictions are performed in an effort to seek for energetically stable and metallic selenium hydrides at high pressures. We find the phase diagram of selenium hydrides is rather different from its sulfur analogy, which is indicated by the emergence of new phases and the change of relative stabilities. Three stable and metallic species with stoichiometries of HSe2, HSe and H3Se are identified above ~120 GPa and they all exhibit superconductive behaviors, of which the hydrogen-rich HSe and H3Se phases show high Tc in the range of 40-110 K. Our simulations established the high-temperature superconductive nature of selenium hydrides and provided useful route for experimental verification.

Recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity (Tc = 190 K) in sulfur hydrides at megabar pressures breaks the traditional belief on the Tc limit of 40 K for conventional superconductors, and opens up the doors in searching new high-temperature superconductors in compounds made up of light elements. Selenium is a sister and isoelectronic element of sulfur, with a larger atomic core and a weaker electronegativity. Whether selenium hydrides share similar high-temperature superconductivity remains elusive, but it is a subject of considerable interest. First-principles swarm structure predictions are performed in an effort to seek for energetically stable and metallic selenium hydrides at high pressures. We find the phase diagram of selenium hydrides is rather different from its sulfur analogy, which is indicated by the emergence of new phases and the change of relative stabilities. Three stable and metallic species with stoichiometries of HSe2, HSe and H3Se are identified above ~120 GPa and they all exhibit superconductive behaviors, of which the hydrogen-rich HSe and H3Se phases show high Tc in the range of 40–110 K. Our simulations established the high-temperature superconductive nature of selenium hydrides and provided useful route for experimental verification. PMID:26490223

Recently, hydrogen sulfide was experimentally found to show the high superconducting critical temperature (Tc) under high-pressure. The superconducting Tc shows 30–70 K in pressure range of 100–170 GPa (low-Tc phase) and increases to 203 K, which sets a record for the highest Tc in all materials, for the samples annealed by heating it to room temperature at pressures above 150 GPa (high-Tc phase). Here we present a solid H5S2 phase predicted as the low-Tc phase by the application of the genetic algorithm technique for crystal structure searching and first-principles calculations to sulfur-hydrogen system under high-pressure. The H5S2 phase is thermodynamically stabilized at 110 GPa, in which asymmetric hydrogen bonds are formed between H2S and H3S molecules. Calculated Tc values show 50–70 K in pressure range of 100–150 GPa within the harmonic approximation, which can reproduce the experimentally observed low-Tc phase. These findings give a new aspect of the excellent superconductivity in compressed sulfur-hydrogen system.

Recently, hydrogen sulfide was experimentally found to show the high superconducting critical temperature (Tc) under high-pressure. The superconducting Tc shows 30-70 K in pressure range of 100-170 GPa (low-Tc phase) and increases to 203 K, which sets a record for the highest Tc in all materials, for the samples annealed by heating it to room temperature at pressures above 150 GPa (high-Tc phase). Here we present a solid H5S2 phase predicted as the low-Tc phase by the application of the genetic algorithm technique for crystal structure searching and first-principles calculations to sulfur-hydrogen system under high-pressure. The H5S2 phase is thermodynamically stabilized at 110 GPa, in which asymmetric hydrogen bonds are formed between H2S and H3S molecules. Calculated Tc values show 50-70 K in pressure range of 100-150 GPa within the harmonic approximation, which can reproduce the experimentally observed low-Tc phase. These findings give a new aspect of the excellent superconductivity in compressed sulfur-hydrogen system. PMID:26983593

Recently, hydrogen sulfide was experimentally found to show the high superconducting critical temperature (Tc) under high-pressure. The superconducting Tc shows 30–70 K in pressure range of 100–170 GPa (low-Tc phase) and increases to 203 K, which sets a record for the highest Tc in all materials, for the samples annealed by heating it to room temperature at pressures above 150 GPa (high-Tc phase). Here we present a solid H5S2 phase predicted as the low-Tc phase by the application of the genetic algorithm technique for crystal structure searching and first-principles calculations to sulfur-hydrogen system under high-pressure. The H5S2 phase is thermodynamically stabilized at 110 GPa, in which asymmetric hydrogen bonds are formed between H2S and H3S molecules. Calculated Tc values show 50–70 K in pressure range of 100–150 GPa within the harmonic approximation, which can reproduce the experimentally observed low-Tc phase. These findings give a new aspect of the excellent superconductivity in compressed sulfur-hydrogen system. PMID:26983593

We report the spontaneous formation of superconducting NiBi3 phase in thermally evaporated Ni-Bi bilayer films. High reaction-diffusion coefficient of Bi is believed to drive the formation of NiBi3 during the deposition of Bi on the Ni film. Cross sectional transmission electron microscopy and glancing incidence X-ray depth profiling confirmed the presence of NiBi3 throughout the top Bi layer. Superconducting transition at ˜3.9 K, close to the bulk value, was confirmed by transport and magnetization measurements. The bilayers were irradiated with varying fluence of 100 MeV Au ions to study the robustness of superconducting order in presence of large concentration of defects. Superconducting parameters of NiBi3, such as transition temperature and upper critical field, remained unchanged upto an ion dose of 1 × 1014 ions/cm2. The diffusive formation of NiBi3 in Ni opens the possibility of studying superconducting proximity effect at a truly clean superconductor-ferromagnet interface.

We report the spontaneous formation of superconducting NiBi{sub 3} phase in thermally evaporated Ni-Bi bilayer films. High reaction-diffusion coefficient of Bi is believed to drive the formation of NiBi{sub 3} during the deposition of Bi on the Ni film. Cross sectional transmission electron microscopy and glancing incidence X-ray depth profiling confirmed the presence of NiBi{sub 3} throughout the top Bi layer. Superconducting transition at ∼3.9 K, close to the bulk value, was confirmed by transport and magnetization measurements. The bilayers were irradiated with varying fluence of 100 MeV Au ions to study the robustness of superconducting order in presence of large concentration of defects. Superconducting parameters of NiBi{sub 3}, such as transition temperature and upper critical field, remained unchanged upto an ion dose of 1 × 10{sup 14} ions/cm{sup 2}. The diffusive formation of NiBi{sub 3} in Ni opens the possibility of studying superconducting proximity effect at a truly clean superconductor-ferromagnet interface.

A modular and scalable Matrix-type Fault Current Limiter (MFCL) that functions as a "variable impedance" device in an electric power network, using components made of superconducting and non-superconducting electrically conductive materials. An inductor is connected in series with the trigger superconductor in the trigger matrix and physically surrounds the superconductor. The current surge during a fault will generate a trigger magnetic field in the series inductor to cause fast and uniform quenching of the trigger superconductor to significantly reduce burnout risk due to superconductor material non-uniformity.

Equations of granular hydrostatics are used to compute the phase diagram of the recently discovered van der Waals-like phase separation in a driven granular gas. The model two-dimensional system consists of smooth hard disks in a rectangular box, colliding inelastically with each other and driven by a "thermal" wall at zero gravity. The spinodal line and the critical point of the phase separation are determined. Close to the critical point, the spinodal and binodal (coexistence) lines are determined analytically. Effects of the finite size of the confining box in the direction parallel to the thermal wall are investigated. These include suppression of the phase separation by heat conduction in the lateral direction and a change from supercritical to subcritical bifurcation. PMID:15600606

The relationship between antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations and superconductivity has become a central topic of research in studies of superconductivity in the iron pnictides. We present unambiguous evidence of the absence of magnetic fluctuations in the non-superconducting collapsed tetragonal phase of CaFe2As2 via inelastic neutron scattering time-of-flight data, which is consistent with the view that spin fluctuations are a necessary ingredient for unconventional superconductivity in the iron pnictides. We demonstrate that the collapsed tetragonal phase of CaFe2As2 is non-magnetic, and discuss this result in light of recent reports of high-temperature superconductivity in the collapsed tetragonal phase of closely related compounds. Work at the Ames Laboratory was supported by the Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences. Work at ORNL's Spallation Neutron Source was sponsored by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

Pressure is a powerful tool to study iron-based superconductors. Here, we report systematic high-pressure transport and structural characterizations of the newly discovered superconductor FeS. It is found that superconductor FeS (tetragonal) partly transforms to a hexagonal structure at 0.4 GPa, and then completely transforms to an orthorhombic phase at 7.4 GPa and finally to a monoclinic phase above 9.0 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature of tetragonal FeS was gradually depressed by pressure, different from the case in tetragonal FeSe. With pressure increasing, the S-Fe-S angles only slightly change but the anion height deviates farther from 1.38 Å. This change of anion height, together with the structural instability under pressure, should be closely related to the suppression of superconductivity. We also observed an anomalous metal-semiconductor transition at 6.0 GPa and an unusual increased resistance with further compression above 9.6 GPa. The former can be ascribed to the tetragonal-orthorhombic structural phase transition, and the latter to the electronic structure changes of the high-pressure monoclinic phase. Finally, a phase diagram of tetragonal FeS as functions of pressure and temperature was mapped out for the first time, which will shed new light on understanding of the structure and physics of the superconducting FeS. PMID:27498699

Pressure is a powerful tool to study iron-based superconductors. Here, we report systematic high-pressure transport and structural characterizations of the newly discovered superconductor FeS. It is found that superconductor FeS (tetragonal) partly transforms to a hexagonal structure at 0.4 GPa, and then completely transforms to an orthorhombic phase at 7.4 GPa and finally to a monoclinic phase above 9.0 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature of tetragonal FeS was gradually depressed by pressure, different from the case in tetragonal FeSe. With pressure increasing, the S-Fe-S angles only slightly change but the anion height deviates farther from 1.38 Å. This change of anion height, together with the structural instability under pressure, should be closely related to the suppression of superconductivity. We also observed an anomalous metal-semiconductor transition at 6.0 GPa and an unusual increased resistance with further compression above 9.6 GPa. The former can be ascribed to the tetragonal-orthorhombic structural phase transition, and the latter to the electronic structure changes of the high-pressure monoclinic phase. Finally, a phase diagram of tetragonal FeS as functions of pressure and temperature was mapped out for the first time, which will shed new light on understanding of the structure and physics of the superconducting FeS. PMID:27498699

Pressure is a powerful tool to study iron-based superconductors. Here, we report systematic high-pressure transport and structural characterizations of the newly discovered superconductor FeS. It is found that superconductor FeS (tetragonal) partly transforms to a hexagonal structure at 0.4 GPa, and then completely transforms to an orthorhombic phase at 7.4 GPa and finally to a monoclinic phase above 9.0 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature of tetragonal FeS was gradually depressed by pressure, different from the case in tetragonal FeSe. With pressure increasing, the S-Fe-S angles only slightly change but the anion height deviates farther from 1.38 Å. This change of anion height, together with the structural instability under pressure, should be closely related to the suppression of superconductivity. We also observed an anomalous metal-semiconductor transition at 6.0 GPa and an unusual increased resistance with further compression above 9.6 GPa. The former can be ascribed to the tetragonal-orthorhombic structural phase transition, and the latter to the electronic structure changes of the high-pressure monoclinic phase. Finally, a phase diagram of tetragonal FeS as functions of pressure and temperature was mapped out for the first time, which will shed new light on understanding of the structure and physics of the superconducting FeS.

The discovery of the Quantum Hall Effect in the 80's opened the field of topological phases of matter, which has been renewed by the discovery of a new kind of topological insulator in 2005, this time in a time-reversal invariant system. In order to obtain a material with tunable topological properties, research were carried out on out-of-equilibrium systems subject to a periodic drive. Such periodically driven topological phases turn out to be richer that their equilibrium counterparts. We consider a 2D crystal subject to a drive periodic in time, constrained so that is is time-reversal invariant and show that such a system is characterized by Z2 indices attached to a gap (and not to a band), which we explicitly construct. To probe these out-of-equilibrium phases in a phase coherent regime, we use standard transport measurements. With the help of numerical simulations, we show that the running time-averaged differential conductances are quantized in a topological gap, and that multi-terminal setups enable to probe the chirality of the out-of-equilibrium topological states.

Low anisotropic (Cu0.5Tl0.5) Ba2Ca2Cu3O10 - δ (CuTl-1223) high temperature superconductingphase was synthesized by solid-state reaction, silver (Ag) nanoparticles were prepared by sol-gel method and gold (Au) nanoparticles were extracted from colloidal solution. We added Ag and Au nanoparticles in CuTl-1223 matrix separately with same concentration during the final sintering process to get (M)x/CuTl-1223; M = Ag nanoparticles or Au nanoparticles (x = 0 and 1.0 wt.%) nano-superconductor composites. We investigated and compared the effects of these noble metals nanoparticles addition on structural, morphological and superconducting transport properties of CuTl-1223 phase. The crystal structure of the host CuTl-1223 superconductingphase was not affected significantly after the addition of these nanoparticles. The enhancement of superconducting properties was observed after the addition of both Ag and Au nanoparticles, which is most probably due to improved inter-grains weak-links and reduction of defects such as oxygen deficiencies, etc. The reduction of normal state room temperature resistivity is the finger prints of the reduction of barriers and facilitation to the carriers transport across the inter-crystallite sites due to improved inter-grains weak-links. The greater improvement of superconducting properties in Ag nanoparticles added samples is attributed to the higher conductivity of silver as compared to gold, which also suits for practical applications due to lower cost and easy synthesis of Ag nanoparticles as compared to Au nanoparticles.

Researchers report the measurements of the I(sub c)(T) of the 102 K phase. They also discuss briefly the composition of the lattice parameters and the ac susceptibility relation to the grain size and microstructure.

Measurements of the resistivity, magnetoresistance, and penetration depth were made on films of La{sub 1.85} Sr{sub 0.15} CuO{sub 4} , with up to 12 at. % of Zn substituted for the Cu. The results show that the quadratic temperature dependence of the inverse square of the penetration depth, indicative of d -wave superconductivity, is not affected by doping. The suppression of superconductivity leads to a metallic nonsuperconducting phase, as expected for a pairing mechanism related to spin fluctuations. The metal-insulator transition occurs in the vicinity of k{sub F}l{approx_equal}1 , and appears to be disorder driven, with the carrier concentration unaffected by doping. (c) 1999 The American Physical Society.

Recent experiments have unveiled important properties of the ground state of the elusive heavy fermion URu2Si2 . While tetragonal symmetry-breaking was reported below the hidden-order (HO) transition at THO≈17.5 K , time-reversal symmetry breaking was observed below the superconducting transition temperature Tcsuperconducting state, such an order parameter is incompatible with broken tetragonal symmetry. Here, we employ a phenomenological model to investigate the properties of a chiral superconducting state that develops inside the hidden-order phase. In this case, there are actually two superconducting transition temperatures: while Tc marks a normal-state to superconducting transition, Tc*superconducting-to-superconducting transition in which time-reversal symmetry is broken. In the phase Tc*superconducting transition, this mode becomes soft near a superconducting-to-superconducting transition, which in principle allows for its detection by Raman spectroscopy. Finally, we investigate the impact of twin domains on the anisotropic properties of the superconducting state, and propose experiments in mechanically strained samples to explore the interplay between hidden order and superconductivity in URu2Si2 .

In the Ta-Ge system the αTa5Ge3 phase is not superconductor. Considering the high solubility of this phase for boron, in this work it has been evaluated the effect of boron doping in αTa5Ge3 on the electrical, heat capacity and magnetic properties of the produced materials. It has been shown that boron doping promoted superconductivity for some specific composition. The Ta5GeB2, also named T2 phase, crystallizes in the tetragonal symmetry with Cr5B3 prototype structure. In this composition the sample presented the maximum superconducting critical temperature (3.4 K). Others systems that exhibit the existence of the T2 phase present superconductivity such as Mo5SiB2 (Tc ˜5.5 K), Nb5Si3-xBx (Tcmax ˜7.8 K) and W5SiB2 (Tc ˜5.5 K). Thus, Ta5GeB2 is more one example.

The neutrino factory [1-3] consists of a target section where pions are produced and captured in a solenoidal magnetic field. Pions in a range of energies from 100 Mev to 400 MeV decay into muons in an 18-meter long channel of 1.25 T superconducting solenoids. The warm bore diameter of these solenoids is about 600 mm. The phase rotation section slows down the high-energy muon and speeds up the low energy muons to an average momentum of 200 MeV/c. The phase-rotation channel consists of three induction linac channels with a short cooling section and a magnetic flux reversal section between the first and second induction linacs and a drift space between the second and third induction linacs. The length of the phase rotation channel will be about 320 meters. The superconducting coils in the channel are 0.36 m long with a gap of 0.14 m between the coils. The magnetic induction within the channel will be 1.25 T. For 260 meters of the 320-meter long channel, the solenoids are inside the induction linac. This paper discusses the design parameters for the superconducting solenoids in the neutrino factory phase-rotation channel.

Squeezed light, displaying less fluctuation than vacuum in some observable, is key in the flourishing field of quantum technologies. Optical or microwave cavities containing a Kerr nonlinearity are known to potentially yield large levels of squeezing, which have been recently observed in optomechanics and nonlinear superconducting circuit platforms. Such Kerr-cavity squeezing however suffers from two fundamental drawbacks. First, optimal squeezing requires working close to turning points of a bistable cycle, which are highly unstable against noise thus rendering optimal squeezing inaccessible. Second, the light field has a macroscopic coherent component corresponding to the pump, making it less versatile than the so-called squeezed vacuum, characterised by a null mean field. Here we prove analytically and numerically that the bichromatic pumping of optomechanical and superconducting circuit cavities removes both limitations. This finding should boost the development of a new generation of robust vacuum squeezers in the microwave and optical domains with current technology. PMID:26916946

The tethering of polymer chains to the surface of nanoparticles (to form so-called `particle brush materials') has emerged as an effective means to enable the bottom-up assembly of one-component hybrid materials with controlled microstructure and improved mechanical stability as well as novel optical or acoustic properties. The polymer-like interactions and response of these particle-brush materials suggest intriguing new opportunities to control structure formation in multicomponent particle mixtures. This contribution will demonstrate that polymer-ligand interactions can drive phase separation processes in mixed particle systems that share analogies to those of regular binary polymer blends. The role of particle size, density and degree of polymerization of tethered chains as well as the interaction parameter between the distinct tethered chains on the mechanism and kinetics of phase separation processes in mixed particle brush systems will be discussed. Ligand-drivenphase separation will be shown to enable the efficient fabrication of monochromatic domain structured in mixed quantum dot systems that might find application in next generation quantum dot-enabled LEDs. Support by the National Science Foundation (via Grant DMR-1410845) is gratefully acknowledged.

Quantum phase slippage (QPS) in a superconducting nanowire is a new candidate for developing a quantum bit [Mooij et al. New J. Phys. 2005, 7, 219; Mooij et al. Nat. Phys. 2006, 2, 169; Khlebnikov http://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0210019 2007]. It has also been theoretically predicted that the occurrence of QPS significantly changes the current-phase relationship (CPR) of the wire due to the tunneling between topologically different metastable states [Khlebnikov Phys. Rev. B 2008, 78, 014512]. We present studies on the microwave response of the superconducting nanowires to reveal their CPRs. First, we demonstrate a simple nanowire fabrication technique, based on commercially available adhesive tapes, which allows making thin superconducting wire from different metals. We compare the resistance vs temperature curves of Mo(76)Ge(24) and Al nanowires to the classical and quantum models of phase slips. In order to describe the experimentally observed microwave responses of these nanowires, we use the McCumber-Stewart model [McCumber J. Appl. Phys. 1968, 39, 3113; Stewart Appl. Phys. Lett. 1968, 12, 277], which is generalized to include either classical or quantum CPR. PMID:19344118

The compositional stability of bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) is crucial for many applications. We have studied the coarsening of amorphous carbon-supported Au-Pd NPs during annealing at 873 K. Using scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy measurements, we show that, despite a complete miscibility of the two metals, the particle assembly undergoes a phase separation during annealing, which leads to two distinct populations: Au-rich NPs with a mean radius of 3.5 nm and large Pd-rich NPs with a mean radius of 25 nm. Thermodynamic calculations and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations explain this behavior that is driven by the competition between surface and mixing energy and by the different mobilities of the two atomic species. PMID:26989906

We analyze the superconducting instabilities in the vicinity of the quantum-critical point of an inversion symmetry breaking order. We first show that the fluctuations of the inversion symmetry breaking order lead to two degenerate superconducting (SC) instabilities, one in the s -wave channel, and the other in a time-reversal invariant odd-parity pairing channel (the simplest case being the same as the of 3He-B phase). Remarkably, we find that unlike many well-known examples, the selection of the pairing symmetry of the condensate is independent of the momentum-space structure of the collective mode that mediates the pairing interaction. We found that this degeneracy is a result of the existence of a conserved fermionic helicity χ , and the two degenerate channels correspond to even and odd combinations of SC order parameters with χ =±1 . As a result, the system has an enlarged symmetry U (1 ) ×U (1 ) , with each U (1 ) corresponding to one value of the helicity χ . Because of the enlarged symmetry, this system admits exotic topological defects such as a fractional quantum vortex, which we show has a Majorana zero mode bound at its core. We discuss how the enlarged symmetry can be lifted by small perturbations, such as the Coulomb interaction or Fermi surface splitting in the presence of broken inversion symmetry, and we show that the resulting superconducting state can be topological or trivial depending on parameters. The U (1 ) ×U (1 ) symmetry is restored at the phase boundary between the topological and trivial SC states, and allows for a transition between topologically distinct SC phases without the vanishing of the order parameter. We present a global phase diagram of the superconducting states and discuss possible experimental implications.

In beam driven dielectric wakefield acceleration (DWA), high-gradient short-wavelength accelerating fields are generally achieved by employing dielectric-lined waveguides (DLWs) with small aperture which constraints the beam sizes. In this paper we investigate the possibility of using a low-energy (50-MeV) flat beams to induce high-gradient wakes in a slab-symmetric DLW. We demonstrate via numerical simulations the possibility to produce axial electric field with peak amplitude close to 0.5 GV/m. Our studies are carried out using the Fermilab's Advanced Superconducting Test Accelerator (ASTA) photoinjector beamline. We finally discuss a possible experiment that could be performed in the ASTA photoinjector and eventually at higher energies.

The phase diagram of BaPb1−xBixO3 exhibits a superconducting dome in the proximity of a charge density wave phase. For the superconducting compositions, the material coexists as two structural polymorphs. Here we show, via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, that the structural dimorphism is accommodated in the form of partially disordered nanoscale stripes. Identification of the morphology of the nanoscale structural phase separation enables determination of the associated length scales, which we compare with the Ginzburg–Landau coherence length. We find that the maximum Tc occurs when the superconducting coherence length matches the width of the partially disordered stripes, implying a connection between the structural phase separation and the shape of the superconducting dome. PMID:26373890

The phase diagram of BaPb1-xBixO3 exhibits a superconducting “dome” in the proximity of a charge density wave phase. For the superconducting compositions, the material coexists as two structural polymorphs. Here we show, via high resolution transmission electron microscopy, that the structural dimorphism is accommodated in the form of partially disordered nanoscale stripes. Identification of the morphology of the nanoscale structural phase separation enables determination of the associated length scales, which we compare to the Ginzburg-Landau coherence length. Thus, we find that the maximum Tc occurs when the superconducting coherence length matches the width of the partially disordered stripes, implying amore » connection between the structural phase separation and the shape of the superconducting dome.« less

This paper presents a research on the mechanism of a linear phase filter constructed with parallel-connected sub-networks, considering that linear phase characteristic of a filter can be achieved when the group delays of sub-networks compensate each other. This paper also gives several coupling and routing diagrams of linear phase filters with different parallel-connected networks, and then the coupling matrixes of three 8-order filters and one 10-order filter are synthesized. One of the coupling matrixes is utilized to design a 8-order parallel-connected network high temperature superconducting (HTS) linear phase filter with two pairs of transmission zeros, so as to verify the correctness of theory data and the feasibility of the circuit design for the proposed 8-order and higher order parallel-connected network linear phase filter. The HTS linear phase filter is designed on YBCO/LaAlO3/YBCO superconducting substrate, at 77 K, the measured center frequency is 2000 MHz with a bandwidth of 30 MHz, the insertion loss is less than 0.3 dB and the reflection is better than -12.5 dB in passband. The group delay is less than ±5 ns over the 60% passband, which shows that the filter has a good linear phase characteristic.

Heavy fermions have served as prototype examples of strongly-correlated electron systems. The occurrence of unconventional superconductivity in close proximity to the electronic instabilities associated with various degrees of freedom points to an intricate relationship between superconductivity and other electronic states, which is unique but also shares some common features with high temperature superconductivity. The magnetic order in heavy fermion compounds can be continuously suppressed by tuning external parameters to a quantum critical point, and the role of quantum criticality in determining the properties of heavy fermion systems is an important unresolved issue. Here we review the recent progress of studies on Ce based heavy fermion superconductors, with an emphasis on the superconductivity emerging on the edge of magnetic and charge instabilities as well as the quantum phase transitions which occur by tuning different parameters, such as pressure, magnetic field and doping. We discuss systems where multiple quantum critical points occur and whether they can be classified in a unified manner, in particular in terms of the evolution of the Fermi surface topology. PMID:27533524

In this paper, we address a number of outstanding issues concerning the nature and the role of magnetic inhomogeneities in the iron chalcogenide system FeTe1-xSex and their correlation with superconductivity in this system. We report morphology of superconducting single crystals of FeTe0.65Se0.35 studied with transmission electron microscopy, high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and their magnetic and superconducting properties characterized with magnetization, specific heat and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our data demonstrate the presence of nanoscale hexagonal regions coexisting with a tetragonal host lattice, a chemical disorder demonstrating a nonhomogeneous distribution of host atoms in the crystal lattice, as well as iron-deficient bands hundreds of nanometres in length. From the magnetic data and ferromagnetic resonance temperature dependence, we attribute magnetic phases in Fe-Te-Se to Fe3O4 inclusions and to hexagonal symmetry nanoscale regions with a structure of the Fe7Se8 type. Our results suggest that a nonhomogeneous distribution of host atoms might be an intrinsic feature of superconducting Fe-Te-Se chalcogenides and we find a surprising correlation indicating that a faster grown crystal of inferior crystallographic properties is a better superconductor.

Heavy fermions have served as prototype examples of strongly-correlated electron systems. The occurrence of unconventional superconductivity in close proximity to the electronic instabilities associated with various degrees of freedom points to an intricate relationship between superconductivity and other electronic states, which is unique but also shares some common features with high temperature superconductivity. The magnetic order in heavy fermion compounds can be continuously suppressed by tuning external parameters to a quantum critical point, and the role of quantum criticality in determining the properties of heavy fermion systems is an important unresolved issue. Here we review the recent progress of studies on Ce based heavy fermion superconductors, with an emphasis on the superconductivity emerging on the edge of magnetic and charge instabilities as well as the quantum phase transitions which occur by tuning different parameters, such as pressure, magnetic field and doping. We discuss systems where multiple quantum critical points occur and whether they can be classified in a unified manner, in particular in terms of the evolution of the Fermi surface topology.

We investigate time-dependent Pancharatnam phases and the relations between such geometric phases and quantum correlations, i.e., quantum discord and concurrence, of superconducting two-qubit coupling system in dissipative environment with the mixture effects of four different eigenstates of density matrix. We find that the time-dependent Pancharatnam phases not only keep the motion memory of such a two-qubit system, but also include the information of quantum correlations. We show that the sudden died and alive phenomena of quantum entanglement are intrinsic in the transition of Pancharatnam phase in the X-state and the complex oscillations of Pancharatnam phase in the Y-state. The faster the Pancharatnam phases change, the slower the quantum correlations decay. In particular, we find that a subspace of quantum entanglement can exist in the Y-state by choosing suitable coupling parameters between two-qubit system and its environment, or initial conditions.

Large ensembles of small particles display fascinating collective behavior when they acquire an electric charge and respond to competing long-range electromagnetic and short-range contact forces. Many industrial technologies face the challenge of assembling and separating such single- or multi-component micro and nano- size ensembles. The dynamics of conducting microparticles in strong electric field in the air or in deep vacuum was studied in Refs. [1,2]. Phase transitions and clustering instability of the electrostatically driven granular gas were found. A continuum model for the phase separation and coarsening in was formulated in terms of a Ginzburg-Landau equation subject to conservation of the total number of grains. In the regime of well-developed clusters, the continuum model is used to derive "sharp-interface" equations that govern the dynamics of the interphase boundary. The situation is remarkably different when the cell is filled with poorly conducting liquid (toluene-ethanol mixute). We have found that metallic particles form a rich variety of phases not observed in the air-filled cell. These phases include static precipitates: honeycombs lattices and Wigner crystals; and novel dynamic condensates: toroidal vortices and pulsating rings. The observed phenomena are attributed to interaction between particles and electro-hydrodynamic flows produced by the action of the electric field on ionic charges in the bulk of liquid. 1. I.S. Aranson, D. Blair, V.A. Kalatsky, G.W. Crabtree, W.-K. Kwok, V.M. Vinokur, and U.Welp, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 3306 (2000) 2. I.S. Aranson, B. Meerson, P.V. Sasorov, and V.M. Vinokur, Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 204301 (2002)

We study a carbon-nanotube quantum dot embedded in a superconducting-quantum-interference-device loop in order to investigate the competition of strong electron correlations with a proximity effect. Depending on whether local pairing or local magnetism prevails, a superconducting quantum dot will exhibit a positive or a negative supercurrent, referred to as a 0 or π Josephson junction, respectively. In the regime of a strong Coulomb blockade, the 0-to-π transition is typically controlled by a change in the discrete charge state of the dot, from even to odd. In contrast, at a larger tunneling amplitude, the Kondo effect develops for an odd-charge (magnetic) dot in the normal state, and quenches magnetism. In this situation, we find that a first-order 0-to-π quantum phase transition can be triggered at a fixed valence when superconductivity is brought in, due to the competition of the superconducting gap and the Kondo temperature. The superconducting-quantum-interference-device geometry together with the tunability of our device allows the exploration of the associated phase diagram predicted by recent theories. We also report on the observation of anharmonic behavior of the current-phase relation in the transition regime, which we associate with the two accessible superconducting states. Our results finally demonstrate that the spin-singlet nature of the Kondo state helps to enhance the stability of the 0 phase far from the mixed-valence regime in odd-charge superconducting quantum dots.

In a previous work the dynamics of relativistic extended objects (i.e., strings, shells, etc.) coupled to Abelian or non-Abelian gauge fields was developed. The extended objects possessed an electriclike current which was defined in the associated Lie algebra of the gauge group under consideration. In the present paper, the interaction between the extended objects and gauge fields is slightly modified so that the objects behave like superconductors. By this we mean (a) the electrical conductivity is infinite and (b) for objects other than strings, a magnetic shielding or Meissner effect (with zero penetration depth) is present. Both (a) and (b) are features which occur in the classical description of the system. We also develop the dynamics for a system which is dual to the one described above. That is, instead of possessing an electric current, the objects here carry a magnetic current (Abelian or non-Abelian). Furthermore, the magnetic conductivity is infinite, and for objects other than strings an electric shielding or "dual" Meissner effect is present. The systems developed here contain Dirac's extended electron model and the MIT bag model as special cases. The former coincides with the description of an electrically charged shell. In the latter, we verify that the dynamics of a cavity within a (magnetic) superconducting vacuum is identical to that of a glueball in the MIT bag. This agrees with the view that the true quantum-chromodynamic (QCD) vacuum may be in a magnetic superconductingphase, and that the "dual" Meissner effect may be relevant for the confinement question. We also examine the possibility of the QCD vacuum being in an electric (or conventional) superconductingphase and a mixed superconductingphase, and comment on the confinement question for these two cases.

We study the destruction of long-range antiferromagnetic order in the high-Tc superconductors La2-xSrxCuO4 and YBa2Cu3O6+x, within the framework of the CP1-nonlinear sigma model coupled to Dirac fermions that describe the doped holes. Skyrmion topological defects are shown to be introduced by doping and their energy is used as an order parameter for the antiferromagnetic state. We obtain analytic expressions for the skyrmion energy as a function of doping which allow us to plot the curves TN(xc)×xc and M(x)×x, for the two compounds, in good quantitative agreement with the experimental data. We also discuss stripes formation and analyse its effects on the curves of the phase diagram.

Magnetization measurements prove that the magnetic properties of large-angle ({theta}>30 deg. ) bismuth bicrystals with a crystallite interface (CI) of twisting types essentially differ from well-known results on single-crystalline specimens. Two superconductingphases with T{sub c}{approx}8.4 K and {approx}4.3 K were observed at the CI of bicrystals while ordinary rhombohedral Bi is not a superconductor. We conclude that these phases have to do with the central part and the adjacent layers of the CI of bicrystals.

Geometric phases depend neither on time nor on energy, but only on the trajectory of the quantum system in state space. In previous studies [1], we have observed them in a Cooper pair box qubit, a system with large anharmonicity. We now make use of a superconducting transmon-type qubit with low anharmonicity to study geometric phases in a multi-level system. We measure the contribution of the second excited state to the geometric phase and find very good agreement with theory treating higher levels perturbatively. Furthermore, we quantify non-adiabatic corrections by decreasing the manipulation time in order to optimize our geometric gate. Geometric phases have also been shown to be resilient against adiabatic field fluctuations [2]. Here, we analyze the effect of artificially added noise on the geometric phase for different system trajectories. [1] P. J. Leek et al., Science 318, 1889 (2007) [2] S. Filipp et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 030404 (2009)

Study and comparison of over 30 examples of electron-doped BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} for transition metal (TM) = Co, Ni, Cu, and (Co/Cu mixtures) have led to an understanding that the suppression of the structural/antiferromagnetic phase transition to low-enough temperature in these compounds is a necessary condition for superconductivity but not a sufficient one. Whereas the structural/antiferromagnetic transitions are suppressed by the number of TM dopant ions (or changes in the c axis) the superconducting dome exists over a limited range of values of the number of valence electrons added by doping (or values of the a/c ratio). By choosing which combination of dopants is used we can change the relative positions of the upper phase lines and the superconducting dome, even to the extreme limit of suppressing the upper structural and magnetic phase transitions without the stabilization of a lower-temperature superconducting dome.

In low-dimensional electron systems, charge density waves (CDW) and superconductivity are two of the most fundamental collective quantum phenomena. For all known quasi-two-dimensional superconductors, the origin and exact boundary of the electronic orderings and superconductivity are still attractive problems. Through transport and thermodynamic measurements, we report on the field-temperature phase diagram in 2H-TaS2 single crystals. We show that the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) increases by one order of magnitude from temperatures at 0.98 K up to 9.15 K at 8.7 GPa when the Tc becomes very sharp. Additionally, the effects of 8.7 GPa illustrate a suppression of the CDW ground state, with critically small Fermi surfaces. Below the Tc the lattice of magnetic flux lines melts from a solid-like state to a broad vortex liquid phase region. Our measurements indicate an unconventional s-wave-like picture with two energy gaps evidencing its multi-band nature. PMID:27534898

In low-dimensional electron systems, charge density waves (CDW) and superconductivity are two of the most fundamental collective quantum phenomena. For all known quasi-two-dimensional superconductors, the origin and exact boundary of the electronic orderings and superconductivity are still attractive problems. Through transport and thermodynamic measurements, we report on the field-temperature phase diagram in 2H-TaS2 single crystals. We show that the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) increases by one order of magnitude from temperatures at 0.98 K up to 9.15 K at 8.7 GPa when the Tc becomes very sharp. Additionally, the effects of 8.7 GPa illustrate a suppression of the CDW ground state, with critically small Fermi surfaces. Below the Tc the lattice of magnetic flux lines melts from a solid-like state to a broad vortex liquid phase region. Our measurements indicate an unconventional s-wave-like picture with two energy gaps evidencing its multi-band nature. PMID:27534898

Pulses to steer the time evolution of quantum systems can be designed with optimal control theory. In most cases it is the coherent processes that can be controlled and one optimizes the time evolution towards a target unitary process, sometimes also in the presence of non-controllable incoherent processes. Here we show how to extend the GRAPE algorithm in the case where the incoherent processes are controllable and the target time evolution is a non-unitary quantum channel. We perform a gradient search on a fidelity measure based on Choi matrices. We illustrate our algorithm by optimizing a phase qubit measurement pulse. We show how this technique can lead to large measurement contrast close to 99%. We also show, within the validity of our model, that this algorithm can produce short 1.4 ns pulses with 98.2% contrast. Work posted at arXiv:1408.6086, in press at Physical Review A Supported by the EU through SCALEQIT.

This is the final report of a Phase 2 SBIR project to develop Meissner effect bearings for miniature cryogenic turbomachines. The bearing system was designed for use in miniature cryogenic turboexpanders in reverse-Brayton-cycle cryocoolers. The cryocoolers are designed to cool sensors on satellites. Existing gas bearings for this application run in a relatively warm state. The heat loss from the bearings into the shaft and into the cold process gas imposes a penalty on the cycle efficiency. By using cold Meissner effect bearings, this heat loss could be minimized, and the input power per unit of cooling for these cryocoolers could be reduced. Two bearing concepts were explored in this project. The first used an all-magnetic passive radial suspension to position the shaft over a range of temperatures from room temperature to 77 K. This bearing concept was proven to be feasible, but impractical for the miniature high-speed turbine application since it lacked the required shaft positioning accuracy. A second bearing concept was then developed. In this concept, the Meissner effect bearings are combined with self-acting gas bearings. The Meissner effect bearing provides the additional stiffness and damping required to stabilize the shaft at low temperature, while the gas bearing provides the necessary accuracy to allow very small turbine tip clearances (5mm) and high speeds (greater than 500,000 rpm).

Two-Level-Systems (TLS) are one of the main sources of decoherence in superconducting qubits. Some individual and coherent TLS, present in the tunnel barrier of the qubit's Josephson junction, can be coherently operated via the qubit. In the past, experiments on superconducting glasses indicated that quasiparticles may give rise to TLS energy loss similar to Korringa relaxation. We will present experiments in which we use a phase qubit to explore the interaction of single TLS with non-equilibrium quasiparticles. We have implemented in-situ quasiparticle injection by using an on-chip dc-SQUID that is pulse-biased beyond its critical current. The quasiparticle density is calibrated by measuring associated characteristic changes to the qubit resonance frequency and energy relaxation rate. The coherence times of individual TLS is measured in dependence of the non-equilibrium quasiparticle density and compared to thermally generated quasiparticles. PI, KIT, Wolfgang-Gaede-Strasse 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.

In superconducting nanofilms the energy quantization induced by the confinement in the direction perpendicular to the film splits the band of single-electron states into series of subbands. The quantum size effect leads to the experimentally observed oscillations of the critical magnetic field with increasing nanofilm thickness. Here, we study the influence of the quantum confinement on the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase in superconducting nanofilms. We show that the range of the magnetic fields for which the FFLO phase is stable oscillates as a function of the film thickness with the phase shift equal to one half of the period corresponding to the critical magnetic field oscillations. Due to the multiband character of the system a division of the FFLO phase stability region appears leading to a phase diagram which is qualitatively different than the one corresponding to a single-band situation. The number of subregions created in such manner depends on the number of bands participating in the formation of the paired state.

Coherent phase-space (PS) structures are an important feature of plasma turbulence. They can drive nonlinear instabilities [1], intermittency in drift-wave turbulence [2], and transport [3]. We aim at a comprehensive understanding of turbulence, not just as an ensemble of waves, as quasilinear theory implies, but as a mixture of coupled waves and localized structures. This work, which focuses on isolated PS structures, is a fundamental advance in this direction. We analyze the effects of self-binding negative fluctuations (PS holes) on stability, intermittency and anomalous resistivity, both analytically and numerically. We present a new theory which describes the growth of a hole or clump [4]. We find that PS holes grow nonlinearly, independently of linear stability. Numerical simulations clarify the physics of nonlinear instabilities in both subcritical and supercritical conditions. When many resonances are unstable, several holes can coalesce into one main macro-scale structure, which survives much longer than a quasilinear diffusion time, suggesting that it may be crucial to resolve phase-space turbulence in analytical and numerical studies of transport. These findings are applied to two fundamental paradigms of plasma physics: bump-on-tail instabilities in 1D electronic plasma and current-driven ion-acoustic instabilities electron-ion plasma. Our results expose important limits of routinely-used linear and quasilinear theories.[4pt] [1] T.H. Dupree, Phys. Fluids 15, 334 (1972); R.H. Berman et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 48, 1249 (1982).[0pt] [2] P.W. Terry, P.H. Diamond, and T.S. Hahm, Phys. Fluids B 2, 2048 (1990).[0pt] [3] H. Biglari et al., Phys. Fluids 31, 2644 (1988); Y. Kosuga et al., Phys. Plasmas 18, 122305 (2011).[0pt] [4] M. Lesur, P.H. Diamond, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett.

Subsolidus phase relations in the system (Bi-Sr -Ca-Cu)-O at 800^circC were investigated via powder X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalysis of solid-state reaction products. The only truly quaternary compound detected is the superconductingphase of n = 2 in Bi_2(Sr _{rm x}Ca_ {rm 1-x})_{ rm n+1}Cu_{rm n}O_{rm y} . The n = 2 phase is compatible with eight different binary or ternary phases. Tie lines, tie triangles, and compatibility tetrahedra involving superconductingphases were determined. The cation solubility limits of the n = 2 and n = 3 superconductingphases were established along tie lines with compatible phases via EPMA on bi- (or poly -) phasic samples prepared at 860^circ C. In each case football-shaped volumes in composition space were established as the solubility limits which bordered on the nominal compositions 2212 or 2223 with the long axis parallel to the Sr-Ca side of the quaternary but also extending toward Bi and Cu. T_{rm c} variations could be correlated with variations in Sr or (Bi+Sr) content and the length of the c-axis parameter. Via in-situ high temperature (550-650 ^circC) electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient measurements in Bi_ {2.1}Sr_{1.9} (Ca_{rm 1-x}Y _{rm x})Cu _2O_{rm y} , a point defect model/diagram is presented which explains the variation of thermopower with composition in the system. The reference, insulating composition should be between Bi_{2.1}Sr _{1.9}Ca_ {0.2}Y_{0.8} Cu_2O_{8.45 } and Bi_{2.1}Sr _{1.9}Ca_ {0.3}Y_{0.7} Cu_2O_{8.4 }. Y-contents higher than x = 0.8 result in a second phase. A structural phase transition from pseudo -tetragonal to orthorhombic takes place at x = 0.5, and plays a major role in determining the physical properties. Oxygen transfer from the Bi-O block to the Cu-O based perovskite block is suggested at the phase boundary of x = 0.5. Jonker analysis and oxygen pressure dependence of carrier concentration confirm p-type behavior despite the change in sign of the thermopower

Tl-Ba-Cu-Cu-O superconducting thin films were prepared by magnetron sputtering with postannealing in a reduced oxygen atmosphere. Single-phase Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O(x) can form on the MgO substrate at 800 C under P(O2) about 0.1 atm. However the phase formation temperature can be affected by the starting composition of the film. Tl1Ba2Ca2Cu3O(x) phase can be formed by simply lowering the Tl2O pressure. The thermal stability of Tl1Ba2Ca2Cu3O(x) phase was studied by resistivity measurements at high temperatures.

We have studied a Fermi system with attractive U (r)-symmetric interaction at the finite temperatures by the quantum field renormalization group (RG) method. The RG functions have been calculated in the framework of dimensional regularization and minimal subtraction scheme up to five loops. It has been found that for r ≥ 4 the RG flux leaves the system's stability region - the system undergoes a first order phase transition. To estimate the temperature of the transition to superconducting or superfluid phase the RG analysis for composite operators has been performed using three-loops approximation. The result of this analysis shows that for 3D systems estimated phase transition temperature is higher then well known theoretical estimations based on continuous phase transition formalism.

Using the Shubin-Vonsovsky model in the weak-coupling regime W > U > V (W is the bandwidth, U is the Hubbard onsite repulsion, and V is the Coulomb interaction at neighboring sites) based on the Kohn-Luttinger mechanism, we determined the regions of the existence of the superconductingphases with the d{sub xy}, p, s, and d{sub x{sup 2}-y{sup 2}} symmetry types of the order parameter. It is shown that the effective interaction in the Cooper channel considerably depends not only on single-site but also on intersite Coulomb correlations. This is demonstrated by the example of the qualitative change and complication of the phase diagram of the superconducting state. The superconducting (SC) phase induction mechanism is determined taking into account polarization contributions in the second-order perturbation theory in the Coulomb interaction. The results obtained for the angular dependence of the superconducting gap in different channels are compared with angule-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) results. The influence of long-range hops in the phase diagram and critical superconducting transition temperature in different channels is analyzed. The conditions for the appearance of the Kohn-Luttinger superconductivity with the d{sub x{sup 2}-y{sup 2}} symmetry and high critical temperatures T{sub c} {approx} 100 K near the half-filling are determined.

Under high pressure, simple molecular solids transform into non-molecular (extended) solids as compression energies approach those of strong covalent bonds in constituent chemical species, often with advanced mechanical, optical, electronic, and magnetic properties. The primary goal of this research is to investigate the pressure-induced molecular to nonmolecular solids, via discoveries of new states, structures, fundamental properties, and novel phenomena in carbon disulfide and its chemical analogs under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature. Spectral, structural, resistance, and theoretical evidences show simple molecular CS2 undergoes transformations to an insulating black polymer with three-fold carbon atoms at ~9 GPa, to a semiconducting polymer above 30 GPa, and finally to a metallic solid above 50 GPa. The metallic phase is a highly disordered 3D network structure with four-fold carbon atoms. Based on first-principles calculations, we consider two plausible structures for the metallic phase: α-chalcopyrite and tridymite, both exhibiting metallic ground states. Remarkably, low-temperature, dense CS2 not only becomes metallic, but also shows the coexistence of superconductivity and spin-fluctuations. This is the first such observation of superconductivity in simple diamagnetic molecular solids like CS2 at high pressure. The superconductivity in CS2 arises from a highly disordered state at a relatively high transition temperature of ~6.2 K and is, interestingly, preceded by a magnetic ordering transition at ~45.2 K. Based on the x-ray scattering data, we suggest that the local structure changes from tetrahedral to octahedral and the associated spin-fluctuations are responsible for the observed magnetic ordering and superconductivity. A number of related molecular analogs and main group IV disulfides were also studied at high pressure and revealed systematic trends. The above-mentioned findings are important for understanding novel properties of 3D

This paper presents 2-D transient analysis of 30 kV A superconducting AC generator (SCG) using the finite element method (FEM). The compensated 2-D model obtained by lengthening the airgap of the original 2-D model is proposed for the efficient transient analysis. The performance of SCG is analyzed by taking into account the rotation, external circuit equations, and eddy current effect of the damper. The eddy current losses occurring in the dampers are analyzed during the transient state under the three phases of sudden grounding fault condition in the armature. Moving line technique is introduced to carry out the dynamic FEM analysis efficiently without remesh of the total elements.

The Phase I SXLS electron storage ring has a circumference of 8.5 meters, it uses conventional dipole magnets, B {le} 1.1 T and p = 60 cm, and it is capable of operating in the range of 50--250 MeV. It is the forerunner of the Phase II SXLS ring which will operate at 700 MeV and will make use of superconducting dipoles, B{sub o} = 3.87 Tesla, as a source of {lambda}{sub c} = 10 angstrom x-rays for proximity printing lithography. The Phase I storage ring has been successfully commissioned; stored currents in excess of one ampere have been achieved. A report on the performance of the machine is presented.

The Phase I SXLS electron storage ring has a circumference of 8.5 meters, it uses conventional dipole magnets, B {le} 1.1 T and p = 60 cm, and it is capable of operating in the range of 50--250 MeV. It is the forerunner of the Phase II SXLS ring which will operate at 700 MeV and will make use of superconducting dipoles, B{sub o} = 3.87 Tesla, as a source of {lambda}{sub c} = 10 angstrom x-rays for proximity printing lithography. The Phase I storage ring has been successfully commissioned; stored currents in excess of one ampere have been achieved. A report on the performance of the machine is presented.

The connection between the cubic-to-tetragonal martensitic phase transformation and the phenomenon of superconductivity in A15 compounds is being investigated. The degradation of the critical parameters, such as T/sub c/, H/sub c2/, and J/sub c/, with mechanical straining is of particular interest. Low-temperature x-ray diffraction experiments are performed on Nb/sub 3/Sn ribbons (with the bronze layers etched off) mounted on copper and indium sample stages. The cryostat used is unique in that it has a vacuum mechanical insert which allows the superconductor to be placed under both compressive and tensile strains while at low temperatures. Preliminary results indicate that the martensitic phase transition temperature, T/sub m/, increases with compressive strains. Other effects of strain on tetragonal phase production are also discussed.

In an isochronous cyclotron, measurements of central phase of the ion beam with respect to rf and the phase width provide a way to tune the cyclotron for maximum energy gain per turn and efficient extraction. We report here the development of a phase measurement system and the measurements carried out at the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre's (VECC's) K= 500 superconducting cyclotron. The technique comprises detecting prompt {gamma}-rays resulting from the interaction of cyclotron ion beam with an aluminium target mounted on a radial probe in coincidence with cyclotron rf. An assembly comprising a fast scintillator and a liquid light-guide inserted inside the cyclotron was used to detect the {gamma}-rays and to transfer the light signal outside the cyclotron where a matching photo-multiplier tube was used for light to electrical signal conversion. The typical beam intensity for this measurement was a few times 10{sup 11} pps.

Pressurized cooling loops in which superfluid helium circulation is driven by the heat being removed have been previously demonstrated in laboratory tests. A simpler and lighter version which eliminates a heat exchanger by mixing the returning fluid directly with the superfluid helium bath was analyzed. A carefully designed flow restriction must be used to prevent boiling in this low-pressure system. A candidate design for Astromag is shown that can keep the magnet below 2.0 K during magnet charging. This gives a greater margin against accidental quench than approaches that allow the coolant to warm above the lambda point. A detailed analysis of one candidate design is presented.

The Princeton Field-Reversed Configuration (PFRC) experiment employs an odd-parity rotating magnetic field (RMFo) current drive and plasma heating system to form and sustain high-Β plasmas. For radial confinement, an array of coaxial, internal, passive, flux-conserving (FC) rings applies magnetic pressure to the plasma while still allowing radio-frequency RMFo from external coils to reach the plasma. The 3 ms pulse duration of the present experiment is limited by the skin time (τfc) of its room-temperature copper FC rings. To explore plasma phenomena with longer characteristic times, the pulse duration of the next-generation PFRC-2 device will exceed 100 ms, necessitating FC rings with (τfc > 300 ms. In this paper we review the physics of internal, discrete, passive FCs and describe the evolution of the PFRC's FC array. We then detail new experiments that have produced higher performance FC rings that contain embedded high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes. Several HTS tape winding configurations have been studied and a wide range of extended skin times, from 0.4 s to over 103 s, has been achieved. The new FC rings must carry up to 3 kA of current to balance the expected PFRC-2 plasma pressure, so the dependence of the HTS-FC critical current on the winding configuration and temperature was also studied. From these experiments, the key HTS-FC design considerations have been identified and HTS-FC rings with the desired performance characteristics have been produced.

Robustness of the geometric phase (GP) with respect to the environmental effects is a basic condition for an effective quantum computation. Here, we study quantitatively the GP of a two-level atom system driven by a phase noise laser under non-Markovian dynamics in terms of different parameters involved in the whole system. We find that with the change of the damping coupling, the GP is very sensitive to its properties exhibiting long collapse and revival phenomena, which play a significant role in enhancing the stabilization and control of the system dynamics. Moreover, we show that the GP can be considered as a tool for testing and characterizing the nature of the qubit–environment coupling. Due to the significance of how a system is quantum correlated with its environment in the construction of a scalable quantum computer, the entanglement dynamics between the qubit with its environment under external classical noise is evaluated and investigated during the time evolution. -- Highlights: •Geometric phase under noise phase laser. •Dynamics of the geometric phase under non-Markovian dynamics in the presence of classical noise. •Solution of master equation of the system in terms atomic inversion. •Nonlocal correlation between the system and its environment under non-Markovianity.

We report epitaxial synthesis of superconducting Cs x WO3 (x = 0.11, 0.20, and 0.31) films on Y-stabilized ZrO2 (111) substrates. The hexagonal crystal structure was verified not only for the composition within the stable region of the bulk (x = 0.20 and 0.31), but also for the out-of-range composition (x = 0.11). The onset of the superconducting transition was recorded at 5.8 K for x = 0.11. We found a strong correlation between the superconducting transition temperature (T C) and the c-axis length, irrespective of the Cs content. These results indicated that the hidden superconductingphase region of hexagonal tungsten bronze is accessible using epitaxial synthesis of lightly doped films.

We investigated the magnetization and crystal structure of FeSe polycrystalline samples with various grain sizes. For the samples with large grains, a large magnetic critical current density J c was observed. For the samples with small grains, superconductivity signals were not observed; instead, magnetization hysteresis, which is not a result of superconductivity, was observed. In the X-ray diffraction pattern for the samples with small grains, broad additional peaks were observed, corresponding to the formation of the non-superconducting (monoclinic) Fe–Se phase at the FeSe grain surface. The crystal structure instability at the grain surface would be the reason for the low superconducting properties of the Fe-chalcogenide polycrystalline wires investigated thus far.

We report a study of the magnetic and electronic properties of the non-centrosymmetric half-Heusler antiferromagnet HoPdBi (TN = 2.0 K). Magnetotransport measurements show HoPdBi has a semimetallic behavior with a carrier concentration n = 3.7 × 10(18) cm(-3) extracted from the Shubnikov-de Haas effect. The magnetic phase diagram in the field-temperature plane has been determined by transport, magnetization, and thermal expansion measurements: magnetic order is suppressed at BM ~ 3.6 T for T --> 0. Superconductivity with Tc ~ 1.9 K is found in the antiferromagnetic phase. Ac-susceptibility measurements provide solid evidence for bulk superconductivity below Tc = 0.75 K with a screening signal close to a volume fraction of 100%. The upper critical field shows an unusual linear temperature variation with Bc2(T --> 0) = 1.1 T. We also report electronic structure calculations that classify HoPdBi as a new topological semimetal, with a non-trivial band inversion of 0.25 eV. PMID:26086396

The properties of geometrically confined superconductors significantly differ from their bulk counterparts. Here, we demonstrate the geometrical impact for superconducting scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) tips, where the confinement ranges from the atomic to the mesoscopic scale. To this end, we compare the experimentally determined magnetic field dependence for several vanadium tips to microscopic calculations based on the Usadel equation. For our theoretical model of a superconducting cone, we find a direct correlation between the geometry and the order of the superconductingphase transition. Increasing the opening angle of the cone changes the phase transition from first to second order. Comparing our experimental findings to the theory reveals first and second order quantum phase transitions in the vanadium STM tips. In addition, the theory also explains experimentally observed broadening effects by the specific tip geometry.

This paper presents the design of a linear phasesuperconducting filter with quasi-elliptic response. The coupling structure of the filter contains two trisections and one quadruplet. The two trisections are applied to generate two independent transmission zeros for high selectivity and are realized by meandered open-loop microstrip resonators; the quadruplet is applied for phase equalization and realized by four novel L-shaped microstrip resonators. The filter is designed at 1950 MHz with a bandwidth of 20 MHz. It is fabricated on a LaAlO3 wafer with double-coated Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 films. The filter shows good selectivity together with flat group delay over 80% of the passband both in the simulation and measurements.

A two-flavor color-superconducting Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model is introduced at finite temperature T, chemical potential {mu}, and in the presence of a constant magnetic field e-tildeB. The effect of (T,{mu},e-tildeB) on the formation of chiral- and color-symmetry-breaking condensates is studied. The complete phase portrait of the model in T-{mu}, {mu}-e-tildeB, and T-e-tildeB phase spaces for various fixed e-tildeB, T, and {mu} is explored. A threshold magnetic field e-tildeB{sub t}{approx_equal}0.5 GeV{sup 2} is found, above which the dynamics of the system are solely dominated by the lowest Landau level, and the effects of T and {mu} are partly compensated by e-tildeB.

We theoretically give an infinite number of metastable crystal structures for the superconducting sulfur hydride H_{x}S under pressure. Previously predicted crystalline phases of H_{2}S and H_{3}S have been thought to have important roles for experimentally observed low and high T_{c}, respectively. The newly found structures are long-period modulated crystals where slablike H_{2}S and H_{3}S regions intergrow on a microscopic scale. The extremely small formation enthalpy for the H_{2}S-H_{3}S boundary indicated by first-principles calculations suggests possible alloying of these phases through the formation of local H_{3}S regions. The modulated structures and gradual alloying transformations between them not only explain the peculiar pressure dependence of T_{c} in sulfur hydride observed experimentally, but also could prevail in the experimental samples under various compression schemes. PMID:27563975

We theoretically give an infinite number of metastable crystal structures for the superconducting sulfur hydride HxS under pressure. Previously predicted crystalline phases of H2S and H3S have been thought to have important roles for experimentally observed low and high Tc, respectively. The newly found structures are long-period modulated crystals where slablike H2S and H3S regions intergrow on a microscopic scale. The extremely small formation enthalpy for the H2S -H3S boundary indicated by first-principles calculations suggests possible alloying of these phases through the formation of local H3S regions. The modulated structures and gradual alloying transformations between them not only explain the peculiar pressure dependence of Tc in sulfur hydride observed experimentally, but also could prevail in the experimental samples under various compression schemes.

The 122 series of iron chalcogenide superconductors, for example KxFe2 -ySe2 , only possesses electron Fermi pockets. Their distinctive electronic structure challenges the picture built upon iron pnictide superconductors, where both electron and hole Fermi pockets coexist. However, partly due to the intrinsic phase separation in this family of compounds, many aspects of their behavior remain elusive. In particular, the evolution of the 122 series of iron chalcogenides with chemical substitution still lacks a microscopic and unified interpretation. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we studied a major fraction of 122 iron chalcogenides, including the isovalently "doped" KxFe2 -ySe2 -zSz,RbxFe2 -ySe2 -zTez , and (Tl,K) xFe2 -ySe2 -zSz . We found that the bandwidths of the low energy Fe 3 d bands in these materials depend on doping; and more crucially, as the bandwidth decreases, the ground state evolves from a metal to a superconductor, and eventually to an insulator, yet the Fermi surface in the metallic phases is unaffected by the isovalent dopants. Moreover, the correlation-driven insulator found here with small band filling may be a novel insulating phase. Our study shows that almost all the known 122-series iron chalcogenides can be understood via one unifying phase diagram which implies that moderate correlation strength is beneficial for the superconductivity.

We have performed photoemission studies of the electronic structure in LiC{sub 6} and KC{sub 8}, a nonsuperconducting and a superconducting graphite intercalation compound, respectively. We have found that the charge transfer from the intercalant layers to graphene layers is larger in KC{sub 8} than in LiC{sub 6}, opposite of what might be expected from their chemical composition. We have also measured the strength of the electron-phonon interaction on the graphene-derived Fermi surface to carbon derived phonons in both materials and found that it follows a universal trend where the coupling strength and superconductivity monotonically increase with the filling of graphene {pi}* states. This correlation suggests that both graphene-derived electrons and graphene-derived phonons are crucial for superconductivity in graphite intercalation compounds.

Geometric quantum manipulation and Landau-Zener interferometry have been separately explored in many quantum systems. Here we fill this gap by combining these two approaches in the study of the dynamics of a superconductingphase qubit. We propose and then experimentally demonstrate Landau-Zener interferometry based on pure geometric phases in this solid-state qubit. We observe the interference due to geometric phases accumulated in the evolution between two consecutive Landau-Zener transitions, while the dynamical phase is eliminated by a spin-echo pulse. Our numerical simulation results using measured energy relaxation and dephasing times agree well with the experimental results. The full controllability of the qubit population as a function of intrinsically fault-tolerant geometric phases provides a promising approach to fault-tolerant quantum computation. This work is partially supported by the SKPBR of China (2011CB922104, 2011CBA00200), NSFC (91021003, 11274156,11125417), PAPD, and the PCSIRT. Han is supported in part by NSF of United States (PHY-1314861).

Single crystals of SrFe2As2 grown using a self-flux solution method were characterized via x-ray, transport, and magnetization studies, revealing a superconductingphase below Tc=21K characterized by a full electrical resistivity transition and partial diamagnetic screening. The reversible destruction and reinstatement of this phase by heat treatment and mechanical deformation studies, along with single-crystal x-ray diffraction measurements, indicate that internal crystallographic strain originating from c-axis-oriented planar defects plays a central role in promoting the appearance of superconductivity under ambient-pressure conditions in ˜90% of as-grown crystals. The appearance of a ferromagnetic moment with magnitude proportional to the tunable superconducting volume fraction suggests that these phenomena are both stabilized by lattice distortion.

In contrast to the current lore, we demonstrate that even the overdoped cuprates suffer from superconductingphase fluctuation in the strong binding limit. Specifically, the Mott-ness of the underlying doped holes dictates naturally a generic optimal doping around 15% and nearly complete loss of phase coherence around 25%, giving rise to a dome shape of superconducting transition temperature in excellent agreement with experimental observations of the cuprates. We verify this effect with a simple estimation using Gutzwiller approximation of the preformed pairs, obtained through variational Monte Carlo calculation. This realization suggests strongly the interesting possibility that the high-temperature superconductivity in the cuprates might be mostly described by Bose-Einstein condensation, without crossing over to amplitude fluctuating Cooper pairs. Supported by Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Science DE-AC02-98CH10886.

Mechanically alloyed Nb3(Al1‑x Ge x ) compounds with nominal composition x = 0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% were synthesized using high-energy ball milling. The effects of Ge content and sintering temperature on the formation of the Nb3Al superconductingphase at a relatively low temperature without the extremely high-temperature rapid heating, quenching and transformation process were studied. The results revealed that Ge doping in Nb3Al improved the formation of the A15 phase at low temperatures, enhanced the superconducting transition temperature (T c), and refined the grain structure, thus improving the overall superconducting properties. The pinning behavior was also studied for the optimized sample.

We present an experimental study of droplet acceleration in a shock-driven two-phase flow (air with embedded liquid droplets). The droplets (propylene glycol, diameter 0.5-3 μm) were pre-mixed with the air in the test section of a shock tube, then impulsively accelerated with planar shock wave with a Mach number of 1.7. A cross-section of the flow is illuminated with multiple pulses from Nd:YAG lasers, producing time-resolved visualizations of the seeded volume. The images are then analyzed to quantify droplet velocity and acceleration from the shock passage to about 1.5 ms after the shock. Based on the velocity measurements, we can resolve the droplet lag after the shock, when the massive droplets ``catch up'' with the flow of the surrounding air, as well as validate our earlier estimates of boundary layer growth. This research is supported by NNSA (US National Nuclear Security Agency).

Macroscopic phase separations have been observed in a commercial styrene- block-butadiene-block-styrene (SBS) triblock copolymer (Kraton 1102), an as-synthesized SBS triblock copolymer, an as-synthesized styrene-block-butadiene (SB) diblock copolymer and a commercial styrene-block-isoprene-block-styrene (SIS) triblock copolymer (Kraton 1107) at elevated temperatures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on macroscopic phase separations in neat copolymers, including block copolymers. The temporal evolution of the structure, growth dynamics, origin and mechanism of the macroscopic phase separations have been investigated. A theoretical model has been established to describe such phase separation in SB diblock copolymer and numerical simulations have been undertaken to predict the structure evolution and growth dynamics. For styrene-butadiene block copolymers, the phase transition process consists of the first and second phase separations. The origin of such phase separations is attributed to chain scission and crosslinking reactions due to thermooxidative degradation. The formation of phase separated domains is the result of separation of polystyrene-rich domains from polybutadiene-rich domains. A mechanism, termed secondary spinodal decomposition, has been proposed to explain second phase separation. It has also demonstrated that the theoretical model and numerical simulations capture the essential features of the experimental observations. Growth rate was seen to depend on phase separation as well as reaction kinetics. The universal scaling laws have been shown to be invalid in macroscopic phase separations of styrene-butadiene block copolymers. The macroscopic phase separation process is more complex in the SIS triblock copolymer. It consists of a first phase separation, phase dissolution and a second phase separation. The origin of such phase decompositions has been shown to be a progressive chain scission reaction during thermal oxidative

To demonstrate the role played by the von Neumann entropy (vNE) spectra in quantum phase transitions we investigate the one-dimensional anisotropic SU(2)\\otimes {XXZ} spin-orbital model with negative exchange parameter. In the case of classical Ising orbital interactions we discover an unexpected novel phase with Majumdar-Ghosh-like spin-singlet dimer correlations triggered by spin-orbital entanglement (SOE) and having k=π /2 orbital correlations, while all the other phases are disentangled. For anisotropic XXZ orbital interactions both SOE and spin-dimer correlations extend to the antiferro-spin/alternating-orbital phase. This quantum phase provides a unique example of two coupled order parameters which change the character of the phase transition from first-order to continuous. Hereby we have established the vNE spectral function as a valuable tool to identify the change of ground state degeneracies and of the SOE of elementary excitations in quantum phase transitions.

We measured the grain size of metastable phase of Si synthesized by shock compression. We analyzed the crystalline structures of the femtosecond laser-driven shock compressed silicon with x-ray diffraction measurements. We found that submicron grains of metastable Si-VIII exist in the silicon. We suggest that the pressure loading time is too short for the nucleated high-pressure phases to grow in case of the femtosecond laser-driven shock compression, therefore Si-VIII grains of submicron size are obtained. We are expecting to discover other unique crystalline structures induced by the femtosecond laser-driven shock wave.

The pressure dependence of the superconducting transition temperature Tc, the local structure, and the electronic properties of the iron chalcogenide superconductor FeSe0.5Te0.5 was investigated by means of SQUID magnetometry and site-selective polarized x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the iron and selenium K -edges. The measurements reveal a discontinuous decrease of the local bond distances by crossing a tetragonal to monoclinic structural phase transition at pS˜2.7 GPa. The electronic structure, however, evolves evenly, but the superconducting properties are highly affected by changes in the local structure. These results underline the close connection of the lattice and the superconductivity in the iron-based superconductors.

It has been recently shown [I. Errea, B. Rousseau, and A. Bergara, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 165501 (2011)] that the phonons of the high-pressure simple cubic phase of calcium are stabilized by strong quantum anharmonic effects. This was obtained by a fully ab initio implementation of the self-consistent harmonic approximation including explicitly anharmonic coefficients up to fourth order. The renormalized anharmonic phonons make possible to estimate the superconducting transition temperature in this system, and a sharp agreement with experiments is found. In this work, this analysis is extended in order to study the effect of anharmonicity in the isotope effect. According to our calculations, despite the huge anharmonicity in the system, the isotope coefficient is predicted to be 0.45, close to the 0.5 value expected for a harmonic BCS superconductor.

The behavior of an electronic subsystem in strong interaction with phonon subsystem, or quantified electromagnetic field (QEF) is discussed. In this case the correlation effect between first and second order electron-phonon interaction (or atom-QEF interaction) takes place. It is shown that the temperature dependence of two-quanta exchange between Fermi sub-system and thermal reservoir gives a non-linear behavior of the order parameter in superconductivity and super-radiance, accompanied by an increase of the electron correlations with increasing temperature. The same effect is considered for two-quanta scattering processes, in which one quantum is absorbed and another is emitted. It is demonstrated, that the order parameter in such a system firstly increases with temperature achieving the maximal value. After that it decreases as in traditional phase transition effects.

We propose a transistorlike circuit including two serially connected segments of a narrow superconducting nanowire joint by a wider segment with a capacitively coupled gate in between. This circuit is made of amorphous NbSi film and embedded in a network of on-chip Cr microresistors ensuring a sufficiently high external electromagnetic impedance. Assuming a virtual regime of quantum phase slips (QPS) in two narrow segments of the wire, leading to quantum interference of voltages on these segments, this circuit is dual to the dc SQUID. Our samples demonstrated appreciable Coulomb blockade voltage (analog of critical current of the SQUIDs) and periodic modulation of this blockade by an electrostatic gate (analog of flux modulation in the SQUIDs). The model of this QPS transistor is discussed.

We have studied local structure of the Laves phase Ce1-xLaxRu2 superconductor by Ru K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine-structure measurements focusing on the small La concentration regime where the transition temperature Tc passes through a local maximum. We find that correlated Debye-Waller factor of the Ru-Ru bonds follows Tc with the varying La concentration in the system. Although, this remarkable Tc correlation on the local atomic structure suggests important role of the electron-lattice interactions, the band-structure effects seem more likely the reason to drive the anomalous superconducting behavior and the Tc maximum in this 4f system.

The applications of magnetrons to high power proton and cw electron linacs are discussed. An experiment is described where a 2.45 GHz magnetron has been used to drive a single cell superconducting cavity. With the magnetron injection locked, a modest phase control accuracy of 0.95° rms has been demonstrated. Factors limiting performance have been identified.

Majorana fermions are predicted to play a crucial role in condensed matter realizations of topological quantum computation. These heretofore undiscovered quasiparticles have been predicted to exist at the cores of vortex excitations in topological superconductors and in heterostructures of superconductors and materials with strong spin-orbit coupling. In this work, we examine topological insulators with bulk s-wave superconductivity in the presence of a vortex lattice generated by a perpendicular magnetic field. Using self-consistent Bogoliubov-de Gennes calculations, we confirm that beyond the semiclassical, weak-pairing limit the Majorana vortex states appear as the chemical potential is tuned from either side of the band edge so long as the density of states is sufficient for superconductivity to form. Further, we demonstrate that the previously predicted vortex phase transition survives beyond the semiclassical limit. At chemical potential values smaller than the critical chemical potential, the vortex lattice modes hybridize within the top and bottom surfaces, giving rise to a dispersive low-energy mid-gap band. As the chemical potential is increased, the Majorana states become more localized within a single surface but spread into the bulk toward the opposite surface. Eventually, when the chemical potential is sufficiently high in the bulk bands, the Majorana modes can tunnel between surfaces and eventually a critical point is reached at which modes on opposite surfaces can freely tunnel and annihilate leading to the topological phase transition previously studied in the work of Hosur [Phys. Rev. Lett.10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.097001 107, 097001 (2011)].

We examine the dynamics of the electroweak phase transition in the early Universe. For Higgs masses in the range 46 less than or = M sub H less than or = 150 GeV and top quark masses less than 200 GeV, regions of symmetric and asymmetric vacuum coexist to below the critical temperature, with thermal equilibrium between the two phases maintained by fluctuations of both phases. We propose that the transition to the asymmetric vacuum is completed by percolation of these subcritical fluctuations. Our results are relevant to scenarios of baryogenesis that invoke a weakly first-order phase transition at the electroweak scale.

We find the angular Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) states (or the twisted kink crystals) in which a phase and an amplitude of a pair potential modulate simultaneously in a quasi-one-dimensional superconducting ring with a static Zeeman magnetic field applied on the ring and static Aharonov-Bohm magnetic flux penetrating the ring. The superconducting ring with magnetic flux produces a persistent current, whereas the Zeeman split of Fermi energy results in the spatial modulation of the pair potential. We show that these two magnetic fields stabilize the FFLO phase in a large parameter region of the magnetic fields. We further draw the phase diagram with the two kinds of first-order phase transitions; one corresponds to phase slips separating the Aharonov-Bohm magnetic flux, and the other separates the number of peaks of the pair amplitude for the Zeeman magnetic field.

We perform a microscopic theoretical study of the generic properties of competing magnetic phases in iron pnictides. As a function of electron filling and temperature, the magnetic stripe (single-Q ) order forms a dome, but competing noncollinear and nonuniform double-Q phases exist at the foot of the dome, in agreement with recent experiments. We compute and compare the electronic properties of the different magnetic phases, investigate the role of competing superconductivity, and show how disorder may stabilize double-Q order. Superconductivity is shown to compete more strongly with double-Q magnetic phases, which can lead to reentrance of the C2 (single-Q ) order, in agreement with recent thermal expansion measurements on K-doped Ba-122 crystals.

Very recent reports of heat capacity measurements in field parallel to the ab--plane of the unconventional superconductor CeCoIn5 have raised great interest, because they pointed out the possibility of the Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinikov (FFLO) phase. We have measured ultrasound velocity of CeCoIn5 to clarify this novel superconductingphase. Sound velocities of the transverse mode with propagation kallel[100] ([010]) and polarization uallel[010] ([100]) were measured in the magnetic field Hallel[100]. The sound velocity is strongly enhanced when it tilts the flux line lattice (FLL) from the field direction (H ⊥ u), indicating the strong coupling between FLL and crystal lattice. Our experimental results reveal an unusual structural transformation of the FLL in the vicinity of the upper critical field. These results provide a strong evidence that the high field state is the textured order parameter state, i.e. the FFLO phase, in which the order parameter is spatially modulated and has planar nodes aligned perpendicular to the vortices.

The parametric phase-locked oscillator (PPLO) is a class of frequency-conversion device, originally based on a nonlinear element such as a ferrite ring, that served as a fundamental logic element for digital computers more than 50 years ago. Although it has long since been overtaken by the transistor, there have been numerous efforts more recently to realize PPLOs in different physical systems such as optical photons, trapped atoms, and electromechanical resonators. This renewed interest is based not only on the fundamental physics of nonlinear systems, but also on the realization of new, high-performance computing devices with unprecedented capabilities. Here we realize a PPLO with Josephson-junction circuitry and operate it as a sensitive phase detector. Using a PPLO, we demonstrate the demodulation of a weak binary phase-shift keying microwave signal of the order of a femtowatt. We apply PPLO to dispersive readout of a superconducting qubit, and achieved high-fidelity, single-shot and non-destructive readout with Rabi-oscillation contrast exceeding 90%. PMID:25059992

We carry out a comparative study of the influence of a random anisotropy field on continuous and discontinuous phase transitions. The ordered phase, which is reached via a continuous symmetry breaking phase transition, is characterized by an order parameter and by a corresponding hydrodynamic continuum field. We assume that the response of the hydrodynamic field to the imposed disorder results in a domainlike pattern of the system. For a strong enough disorder both transitions become gradual. For weaker disorder strengths the disorder converts a second order transition into a discontinuous one.

We report an in-plane optical spectroscopy study on the iron-selenide superconductor K0.75Fe1.75Se2. The measurement revealed the development of a sharp reflectance edge below Tc at frequency much smaller than the superconducting energy gap on a relatively incoherent electronic background, a phenomenon which was not seen in any other Fe-based superconductors so far investigated. Furthermore, the feature could be noticeably suppressed and shifted to lower frequency by a moderate magnetic field. Our analysis indicates that this edge structure arises from the development of a Josephson-coupling plasmon in the superconducting condensate. Together with the transmission electron microscopy analysis, our study yields compelling evidence for the presence of nanoscale phase separation between superconductivity and magnetism. The results also enable us to understand various seemingly controversial experimental data probed from different techniques. PMID:22355735

Highly-texturized polycrystalline fibres of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system have been grown by the laser floating zone technique at seven different pulling rates: (1.1, 2.2, 4.17, 8.3, 16.7, 33.3, 60.5) × 10-6 m s-1. The assessment of the cation segregation at the solid/liquid interface allowed us to calculate their equilibrium and effective distribution coefficients. The equilibrium distribution coefficients (k0,Bi = 0.55, k0,Sr = 0.97, k0,Ca = 1.67, k0,Cu = 1.10) were estimated using the Burton, Primm and Slichter (BPS) theory by taking into account the determined effective values. The effective distribution coefficients tend to unity as long as the pulling rate increases. The composition profiles along the initial transient region of the solidified fibres show a fast approach to the nominal composition as the pulling rate increases. The outstanding effect of the growth speed on superconductingphase type development is explained based on the solute trapping phenomena. The sequence of crystallization for superconductingphases ('2212' rightarrow '4413' rightarrow '2201') with pulling rate is a spontaneous effect of the system thermodynamics in order to balance the Bi trapping. This phase sequence corresponds to the smallest change of Bi chemical potential from the liquid phase to the solid phase. A diagram of free energy curves of the interdendritic superconductingphases illustrates the partitionless solidification phenomena at the highest growth speed.

We have used inelastic neutron scattering and muon-spin rotation to compare the low energy magnetic excitations in single crystals of superconducting Fe1.01Se0.50Te0.50 and non-superconducting Fe1.10Se0.25Te0.75. We confirm the existence of a spin resonance in the superconductingphase of Fe1.01Se0.50Te0.50, at an energy of 7 meV and a wavevector of (1/2, 1/2, 0). The non-superconducting sample exhibits two incommensurate magnetic excitations at (1/2, 1/2, 0) ± (0.18, - 0.18, 0) which rise steeply in energy, but no resonance is observed at low energies. A strongly dispersive low energy magnetic excitation is also observed in Fe1.10Se0.25Te0.75 close to the commensurate antiferromagnetic ordering wavevector (1/2 - δ, 0, 1/2), where δ≈0.03. The magnetic correlations in both samples are found to be quasi-two-dimensional in character and persist well above the magnetic (Fe1.10Se0.25Te0.75) and superconducting (Fe1.01Se0.50Te0.50) transition temperatures.

Nuclear bodies are RNA and protein-rich, membraneless organelles that play important roles in gene regulation. The largest and most well-known nuclear body is the nucleolus, an organelle whose primary function in ribosome biogenesis makes it key for cell growth and size homeostasis. The nucleolus and other nuclear bodies behave like liquid-phase droplets and appear to condense from the nucleoplasm by concentration-dependent phase separation. However, nucleoli actively consume chemical energy, and it is unclear how such nonequilibrium activity might impact classical liquid–liquid phase separation. Here, we combine in vivo and in vitro experiments with theory and simulation to characterize the assembly and disassembly dynamics of nucleoli in early Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. In addition to classical nucleoli that assemble at the transcriptionally active nucleolar organizing regions, we observe dozens of “extranucleolar droplets” (ENDs) that condense in the nucleoplasm in a transcription-independent manner. We show that growth of nucleoli and ENDs is consistent with a first-order phase transition in which late-stage coarsening dynamics are mediated by Brownian coalescence and, to a lesser degree, Ostwald ripening. By manipulating C. elegans cell size, we change nucleolar component concentration and confirm several key model predictions. Our results show that rRNA transcription and other nonequilibrium biological activity can modulate the effective thermodynamic parameters governing nucleolar and END assembly, but do not appear to fundamentally alter the passive phase separation mechanism. PMID:26351690

Nuclear bodies are RNA and protein-rich, membraneless organelles that play important roles in gene regulation. The largest and most well-known nuclear body is the nucleolus, an organelle whose primary function in ribosome biogenesis makes it key for cell growth and size homeostasis. The nucleolus and other nuclear bodies behave like liquid-phase droplets and appear to condense from the nucleoplasm by concentration-dependent phase separation. However, nucleoli actively consume chemical energy, and it is unclear how such nonequilibrium activity might impact classical liquid-liquid phase separation. Here, we combine in vivo and in vitro experiments with theory and simulation to characterize the assembly and disassembly dynamics of nucleoli in early Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. In addition to classical nucleoli that assemble at the transcriptionally active nucleolar organizing regions, we observe dozens of "extranucleolar droplets" (ENDs) that condense in the nucleoplasm in a transcription-independent manner. We show that growth of nucleoli and ENDs is consistent with a first-order phase transition in which late-stage coarsening dynamics are mediated by Brownian coalescence and, to a lesser degree, Ostwald ripening. By manipulating C. elegans cell size, we change nucleolar component concentration and confirm several key model predictions. Our results show that rRNA transcription and other nonequilibrium biological activity can modulate the effective thermodynamic parameters governing nucleolar and END assembly, but do not appear to fundamentally alter the passive phase separation mechanism. PMID:26351690

Labyrinthine patterns arise in two-dimensional physical systems submitted to competing interactions, in fields ranging from solid-state physics to hydrodynamics. For systems of interacting particles, labyrinthine and stripe phases were studied in the context of colloidal particles confined into a monolayer, both numerically by means of Monte Carlo simulations and experimentally using superparamagnetic particles. Here we report an experimental observation of a labyrinthine phase in an out-of-equilibrium system constituted of macroscopic particles. Once sufficiently magnetized, they organize into short chains of particles in contact and randomly orientated. We characterize the transition from a granular gas state towards a solid labyrinthine phase, as a function of the ratio of the interaction strength to the kinetic agitation. The spatial local structure is analyzed by means of accurate particle tracking. Moreover, we explain the formation of these chains using a simple model.

We propose a simple approach to realize a topological phase transition using a spatial periodic potential. As an example, we examine the electronic structures of HgTe/CdTe quantum wells, and demonstrate that their band structures can be effectively manipulated by the periodic potential. At a critical potential, we find that a conventional band insulator undergoes a topological phase transition into a quantum spin Hall system, which is characterized by an abrupt change of the spin Chern number and emerging edge states. Our proposal provides an interesting way to dynamically turn on or off topologically protected edge states for application in switching devices.

In the framework of the t- J 1- J 2- V model, the integral equation determining the order parameter Δ( p) of the superconductingphase is derived for an ensemble of strongly correlated fermions on a triangular lattice using the diagram technique for the Hubbard operators. Taking into account the interaction between the Hubbard fermions within two coordination spheres, we demonstrate that the exact analytical solution Δ2( p) of this equation for the superconductingphase with the (( {{d_{{x^2} - {y^2}}} + i{d_{xy}}} )) symmetry can be expressed as a superposition of two chiral basis functions. This gives rise to a new set of nodal points for the complex parameter Δ2( p). Moreover, at some critical value x c of the charge carrier density, we obtain a gapless phase with six Dirac points. The passing of x through x = x c is accompanied by the topological quantum transition corresponding to the change in the topological parameter Q.

Josephson parametric amplifiers approach quantum-noise-limited performance and are used in experiments requiring high-fidelity detection of single-photon-level microwave signals. Current Josephson parametric amplifiers couple the Josephson junction (a nonlinear inductor) to a resonant cavity, achieving high gain at the expense of limited instantaneous bandwidth. In contrast, Josephson traveling wave parametric amplifiers (JTWPAs) avoid this gain-bandwidth trade-off by employing long propagation lengths rather than a resonant cavity. A major challenge in JTWPA design is that optimum parametric gain is only achieved when the four-wave mixing process is phase matched. We show that by adding a series of resonant elements to the transmission line, phase matching and exponential gain can be achieved. Generation of higher harmonics is automatically suppressed due to the junction plasma resonance. We present the theory and selected results, including the gain, bandwidth, and dynamic range of the amplifier. The simultaneous achievement of high gain (greater than 20 dB), large instantaneous bandwidth (greater than 2 GHz), and high dynamic range make the JTWPA a promising device for the simultaneous readout of frequency-multiplexed superconducting qubits.

Bulk superconducting samples of type GdBa2Cu3- x Ru x O7- δ phase, Gd-123, with x ranging from 0.0 to 0.15 were prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction technique. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and the electrical resistivity measurements were performed in order to investigate the effect of Ru4+ ions substitution on Gd-123 phase. Enhancement of the phase formation and the superconducting transition temperature T c for GdBa2Cu3- x Ru x O7- δ phase up to x=0.05 was observed. The effect of magnetic field up to 4.4 kG on the electrical resistivity behavior of the prepared samples was studied to investigate the flux motion of this phase. The derived flux pinning energy U, based on the thermally activated flux creep TAFC model, decreased with increasing the magnetic field B. The flux pinning energy followed the exponent behavior as U( B)˜ B - β . The superconducting transition width ΔT increased as the magnetic field increased, showing the scaling relation as ΔT˜ B n . Using Ambegaokar and Halperin AH theory, the magnetic field and temperature dependence of U was found to be U( B, T)˜ ΔTB - η , η= β+ n. The critical current density J c (0) enhanced up to x=0.05, beyond which it decreased with further increase in Ru-content.

The ultrahigh demand for faster computers is currently tackled by traditional methods such as size scaling (for increasing the number of devices), but this is rapidly becoming almost impossible, due to physical and lithographic limitations. To boost the speed of computers without increasing the number of logic devices, one of the most feasible solutions is to increase the number of operations performed by a device, which is largely impossible to achieve using current silicon-based logic devices. Multiple operations in phase-change–based logic devices have been achieved using crystallization; however, they can achieve mostly speeds of several hundreds of nanoseconds. A difficulty also arises from the trade-off between the speed of crystallization and long-term stability of the amorphous phase. We here instead control the process of melting through premelting disordering effects, while maintaining the superior advantage of phase-change–based logic devices over silicon-based logic devices. A melting speed of just 900 ps was achieved to perform multiple Boolean algebraic operations (e.g., NOR and NOT). Ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations and in situ electrical characterization revealed the origin (i.e., bond buckling of atoms) and kinetics (e.g., discontinuouslike behavior) of melting through premelting disordering, which were key to increasing the melting speeds. By a subtle investigation of the well-characterized phase-transition behavior, this simple method provides an elegant solution to boost significantly the speed of phase-change–based in-memory logic devices, thus paving the way for achieving computers that can perform computations approaching terahertz processing rates. PMID:25197044

The ultrahigh demand for faster computers is currently tackled by traditional methods such as size scaling (for increasing the number of devices), but this is rapidly becoming almost impossible, due to physical and lithographic limitations. To boost the speed of computers without increasing the number of logic devices, one of the most feasible solutions is to increase the number of operations performed by a device, which is largely impossible to achieve using current silicon-based logic devices. Multiple operations in phase-change-based logic devices have been achieved using crystallization; however, they can achieve mostly speeds of several hundreds of nanoseconds. A difficulty also arises from the trade-off between the speed of crystallization and long-term stability of the amorphous phase. We here instead control the process of melting through premelting disordering effects, while maintaining the superior advantage of phase-change-based logic devices over silicon-based logic devices. A melting speed of just 900 ps was achieved to perform multiple Boolean algebraic operations (e.g., NOR and NOT). Ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations and in situ electrical characterization revealed the origin (i.e., bond buckling of atoms) and kinetics (e.g., discontinuouslike behavior) of melting through premelting disordering, which were key to increasing the melting speeds. By a subtle investigation of the well-characterized phase-transition behavior, this simple method provides an elegant solution to boost significantly the speed of phase-change-based in-memory logic devices, thus paving the way for achieving computers that can perform computations approaching terahertz processing rates. PMID:25197044

Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) has commissioned K500 Superconducting cyclotron (SCC) based on MSU and Texas A&M university cyclotrons. The radio frequency (RF) system of SCC has been commissioned with the stringent requirement of various RF parameters. The three-phase RF system of Superconducting cyclotron has been developed in the frequency range 9-27 MHz with amplitude and phase stability of 100 ppm and ±0.1°, respectively. The phase control system has the option to change the relative phase difference between any two RF cavities and maintain the phase stability within ±0.1° during round-the-clock cyclotron operation. The said precision phase loop consists of both analogue In-phase/Quadrature modulator to achieve faster response and also Direct Digital Synthesis based phase shifter to achieve wide dynamic range as well. This paper discusses detail insights into the various issues of phase control for the K500 SCC at VECC, Kolkata.

Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) has commissioned K500 Superconducting cyclotron (SCC) based on MSU and Texas A and M university cyclotrons. The radio frequency (RF) system of SCC has been commissioned with the stringent requirement of various RF parameters. The three-phase RF system of Superconducting cyclotron has been developed in the frequency range 9–27 MHz with amplitude and phase stability of 100 ppm and ±0.1°, respectively. The phase control system has the option to change the relative phase difference between any two RF cavities and maintain the phase stability within ±0.1° during round-the-clock cyclotron operation. The said precision phase loop consists of both analogue In-phase/Quadrature modulator to achieve faster response and also Direct Digital Synthesis based phase shifter to achieve wide dynamic range as well. This paper discusses detail insights into the various issues of phase control for the K500 SCC at VECC, Kolkata.

We study the effect of electron-phonon interactions in the band topology of Dirac insulators, both at zero and finite temperature. Elaborating on recent theoretical work, we determine how and when phonons can drive a trivial insulator into a topological insulating phase. As an application, we evaluate the temperature-dependence of the critical thickness for the topological transition in CdTe/HgTe quantum wells.

A batch superconducting solenoid magnet for the ADS proton linear accelerator has been designed, fabricated, and tested in a vertical dewar in Sept. 2013. A total of ten superconducting magnets will be installed into two separate cryomodules. Each cryomodule contains six superconducting spoke RF cavities for beam acceleration and five solenoid magnets for beam focusing. The multifunction superconducting magnet contains a solenoid for beam focusing and two correctors for orbit correction. The design current for the solenoid magnet is 182 A. A quench performance test shows that the operating current of the solenoid magnet can reach above 300 A after natural quenching on three occasions during current ramping (260 A, 268 A, 308 A). The integrated field strength and leakage field at the nearby superconducting spoke cavities all meet the design requirements. The vertical test checked the reliability of the test dewar and the quench detection system. This paper presents the physical and mechanical design of the batch magnets, the quench detection technique, field measurements, and a discussion of the residual field resulting from persistent current effects.

A theoretical model of metamagnetic-like (ferromagnetic-paramagnetic and ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic) phase transitions is developed for the interpretation of experimental results obtained recently for the Ni-Mn-Co-X (X = In, Sn, Ga) shape memory alloys. The conditions of elastically driven (caused by the martensitic transformation of alloy) metamagnetic-like phase transitions are determined. These conditions are: high magnetic susceptibility of paramagnetic/antiferromagnetic phase; large (but real for some alloys) volume change during the martensitic transformation; and large value of volume magnetostriction caused by the metamagnetic-like phase transition. The magnetoelastic mechanism is proposed for the explanation of magnetic field influence on the martensitic transformation. The elastically driven ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition is considered in more detail and the results of corresponding magnetic measurements are described.

A series of new superconducting binary silicides and germanides have recently been synthesized under high-pressure high-temperature conditions. A representative member of this group, BaGe3, was theoretically investigated using evolutionary structure searches coupled with structural analogies in the pressure range from 1 atm to 250 GPa, where three new phases were discovered. At 1 atm, in addition to the synthesized P63/mmc phase, we predicted two new phases, I4/mmm and Amm2, to be dynamically stable. The Amm2 structure comprises Ge clusters and triangular prisms intercalated with Ba and Ge atoms, a unique structural motif unknown to this group. The I4/mmm structure has been previously synthesized in binary silicides and is calculated to be thermodynamically stable in BaGe3 between 15.6 and 35.4 GPa. Above 35.4 GPa, two new phases of P6̅m2 and R3̅m symmetry become the global minima and remain so up to the highest pressure considered. These two phases have very similar enthalpies, and both feature layers of double Kagome nets of Ge intercalated with Ba-Ge layers. The predicted phases are suggested to be metallic with itinerant electrons and to be potentially superconducting from the considerable electron-phonon coupling strength. Density functional perturbation calculations combined with the Allen-Dynes-modified McMillan formula were used to estimate the superconducting critical temperatures (Tc) for these new phases, which, with slight pressure variations, are comparable to the experimental Tc measured for the P63/mmc phase. PMID:25731906

The phase diagram of BaPb1-xBixO3 exhibits a superconducting “dome” in the proximity of a charge density wave phase. For the superconducting compositions, the material coexists as two structural polymorphs. Here we show, via high resolution transmission electron microscopy, that the structural dimorphism is accommodated in the form of partially disordered nanoscale stripes. Identification of the morphology of the nanoscale structural phase separation enables determination of the associated length scales, which we compare to the Ginzburg-Landau coherence length. Thus, we find that the maximum Tc occurs when the superconducting coherence length matches the width of the partially disordered stripes, implying a connection between the structural phase separation and the shape of the superconducting dome.

The phase diagram of BaPb1-xBixO3 exhibits a superconducting dome in the proximity of a charge density wave phase. For the superconducting compositions, the material coexists as two structural polymorphs. Here we show, via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, that the structural dimorphism is accommodated in the form of partially disordered nanoscale stripes. Identification of the morphology of the nanoscale structural phase separation enables determination of the associated length scales, which we compare with the Ginzburg–Landau coherence length. We find that the maximum Tc occurs when the superconducting coherence length matches the width of the partially disordered stripes, implying a connection between the structural phase separation and the shape of the superconducting dome.

We report small-angle neutron scattering studies of liquid helium mixtures confined in Mobil Crystalline Material-41 (MCM-41), a porous silica glass with narrow cylindrical nanopores (d=3.4 nm). MCM-41 is an ideal model adsorbent for fundamental studies of gas sorption in porous media because its monodisperse pores are arranged in a 2D triangular lattice. The small-angle scattering consists of a series of diffraction peaks whose intensities are determined by how the imbibed liquid fills the pores. Pure (4)He adsorbed in the pores show classic, layer-by-layer film growth as a function of pore filling, leaving the long range symmetry of the system intact. In contrast, the adsorption of (3)He-(4)He mixtures produces a structure incommensurate with the pore lattice. Neither capillary condensation nor preferential adsorption of one helium isotope to the pore walls can provide the symmetry-breaking mechanism. The scattering is consistent with the formation of randomly distributed liquid-liquid microdomains ∼2.3 nm in size, providing evidence that confinement in a nanometer scale capillary can drive local phase separation in quantum liquid mixtures. PMID:23006380

When a fluid flows laterally over a granular bed, grains may be transported with the flow. This process shapes much of the natural world. The boundary between states with and without grain motion has been studied for decades. However, this boundary is not well understood, since the process whereby grains are transported involves the coupling of several complex phenomena: turbulent fluid flow near a rough boundary, Darcy flow through the pore structure of the granular bed, the yield strength of granular beds comprised of frictional grains with irregular shape, and inertial effects of grains that become entrained in the flow. In order to clarify the essential physics that governs the onset of granular motion, we study this process computationally by including only the minimal features and then adding complexities one by one. We start with a simple numerical model that includes only gravity, grain-grain interactions that are repulsive and frictionless, and a purely horizontal viscous fluid flow. By varying the fluid flow rate and the effective viscosity, we find behavior that is qualitatively consistent with a large collection of experimental data known as the Shields curve. Thus, our results suggest that the main features of this curve result from a competition between grain inertia and viscous damping. We find this phase diagram to be qualitatively insensitive to secondary effects, such as friction, irregular grain shape, and restitution losses. Funded by U.S. Army Research Office under Grant No. W911NF-14-1-0005.

We previously discovered multiple superconductingphases in the ammoniated Na-doped FeSe material, (NH3)yNaxFeSe. To clarify the origin of the multiple superconductingphases, the variation of Tc was fully investigated as a function of x in (NH3)yNaxFeSe. The 32 K superconductingphase is mainly produced in the low-x region below 0.4, while only a single phase is observed at x = 1.1, with Tc = 45 K, showing that the Tc depends significantly on x, but it changes discontinuously with x. The crystal structure of (NH3)yNaxFeSe does not change as x increases up to 1.1, i.e., the space group of I4/mmm. The lattice constants, a and c, of the low-Tc phase (Tc = 32.5 K) are 3.9120(9) and 14.145(8) Å, respectively, while a = 3.8266(7) Å and c = 17.565(9) Å for the high-Tc phase (~46 K). The c increases in the high Tc phase, implying that the Tc is directly related to c. In (NH3)yLixFeSe material, the Tc varies continuously within the range of 39 to 44 K with changing x. Thus, the behavior of Tc is different from that of (NH3)yNaxFeSe. The difference may be due to the difference in the sites that the Na and Li occupy. PMID:26239256

We present a universal and scalable method to fabricate Janus droplets based on evaporation driven liquid-liquid phase separation. In this work, the morphologies and chemical properties of separate parts of the Janus droplets can be flexibly regulated, and more complex Janus droplets (such as core-shell Janus droplets, ternary Janus droplets, and multiple Janus droplets) can be constructed easily. PMID:26983706

Most screw-thread-type ultrasonic motors are designed to be two-phasedriven. This paper aims to present a novel single phasedriven design that generates the required wobble motion, thus significantly simplifying the driving circuit of the ultrasonic motor. The proposed single-phasedriven screw-thread-type ultrasonic motor works with two orthogonal bending modes generated by an asymmetric stator design. The novel stator design can improve the vibration displacement and further enhance the performance of the single phasedriven motor. The vibration characteristics of the asymmetric stator structure were analyzed by ANSYS finite element analysis software. Based on the design and analysis processes, a prototype of the desired screw-thread-type ultrasonic motor was fabricated and tested. When the operating voltage is 200 Vpp, the obtained main characteristics of the proposed motor are as follows: the working frequency is between 28.3 and 29.5 kHz; the maximum no-load velocity is approximately 4.1 mm s-1; and the thrust force is 1.6 N.

Fermi systems in the cross-over regime between weakly coupled Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) and strongly coupled Bose-Einstein-condensate (BEC) limits are among the most fascinating objects to study the behavior of an assembly of strongly interacting particles. The physics of this cross-over has been of considerable interest both in the fields of condensed matter and ultracold atoms. One of the most challenging issues in this regime is the effect of large spin imbalance on a Fermi system under magnetic fields. Although several exotic physical properties have been predicted theoretically, the experimental realization of such an unusual superconducting state has not been achieved so far. Here we show that pure single crystals of superconducting FeSe offer the possibility to enter the previously unexplored realm where the three energies, Fermi energy εF, superconducting gap Δ, and Zeeman energy, become comparable. Through the superfluid response, transport, thermoelectric response, and spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunneling microscopy, we demonstrate that εF of FeSe is extremely small, with the ratio Δ/εF ~ 1(~0.3) in the electron (hole) band. Moreover, thermal-conductivity measurements give evidence of a distinct phase line below the upper critical field, where the Zeeman energy becomes comparable to εF and Δ. The observation of this field-induced phase provides insights into previously poorly understood aspects of the highly spin-polarized Fermi liquid in the BCS-BEC cross-over regime. PMID:25378706

Superconductivity in iron selenides has experienced a rapid growth, but not without major inconsistencies in the reported properties. For alkali-intercalated iron selenides, even the structure of the superconductingphase is a subject of debate, in part because the onset of superconductivity is affected much more delicately by stoichiometry and preparation than in cuprate or pnictide superconductors. If high-quality, pure, superconducting intercalated iron selenides are ever to be made, the intertwined physics and chemistry must be explained by systematic studies of how these materials form and by and identifying the many coexisting phases. To that end, we prepared pure K2Fe4Se5 powder and superconductors in the KxFe2-ySe2 system, and examined differences in their structures by high-resolution synchrotron and single-crystal x-ray diffraction. We found four distinct phases: semiconducting K2Fe4Se5, a metallic superconductingphase KxFe2Se2 with x ranging from 0.38 to 0.58, the phase KFe1.6Se2 with full K occupancy and no Fe vacancy ordering, and a oxidized phase K0.51(5)Fe0.70(2)Se that forms the PbClF structure upon exposure to moisture. We find that the vacancy-ordered phase K2Fe4Se5 does not become superconducting by doping, but the distinct iron-rich minority phase KxFe2Se2 precipitates from single crystals upon cooling from above the vacancy ordering temperature. This coexistence of separate metallic and semiconducting phases explains a broad maximum in resistivity around 100 K. Further studies to understand the solubility of excess Fe in the KxFe2-ySe2 structure will shed light on the maximum fraction of superconducting KxFe2Se2 that can be obtained by solid state synthesis.

Predicting the macroscopic chiral behaviour of liquid crystals from the microscopic chirality of the particles is highly non-trivial, even when the chiral interactions are purely entropic in nature. Here we introduce a novel chiral hard-particle model, namely particles with a twisted polyhedral shape and obtain a stable fully entropy-driven cholesteric phase by computer simulations. By slightly modifying the triangular base of the particle, we are able to switch from a left-handed prolate (calamitic) to a right-handed oblate (discotic) cholesteric phase using the same right-handed twisted particle model. Furthermore, we show that not only prolate and oblate chiral nematic phases, but also other novel entropy-drivenphases, namely chiral blue phases, chiral nematic phases featuring both twist and splay deformations, chiral biaxial nematic phases with one of the axes twisted, can be obtained by varying particle biaxiality and chirality. Our results allow to identify general guidelines for the stabilization of these phases.

Control and manipulation of quantum engineered systems allows for the utilization of time-dependent parametric modulations for accessing novel out-of-equilibrium phenomena. In the absence of such driving, the dissipative Dicke model exhibits a fascinating out-of-equilibrium many-body phase transition as a function of a coupling between a driven photonic cavity and numerous two-level atoms. We study the effect of a parametric modulation of this coupling and discover a rich phase diagram as a function of the modulation strength. We find that in addition to the established normal and super-radiant phases, a new phase with pulsed superradiance, which we term dynamical normal phase, appears when the system is parametrically driven. Employing different methods, we characterize the different phases and the transitions between them. Specific heed is paid to the role of dissipation in determining the phase boundaries. Our analysis paves the road for the experimental study of dynamically stabilized phases of interacting light and matter.

Predicting the macroscopic chiral behaviour of liquid crystals from the microscopic chirality of the particles is highly non-trivial, even when the chiral interactions are purely entropic in nature. Here we introduce a novel chiral hard-particle model, namely particles with a twisted polyhedral shape and obtain a stable fully entropy-driven cholesteric phase by computer simulations. By slightly modifying the triangular base of the particle, we are able to switch from a left-handed prolate (calamitic) to a right-handed oblate (discotic) cholesteric phase using the same right-handed twisted particle model. Furthermore, we show that not only prolate and oblate chiral nematic phases, but also other novel entropy-drivenphases, namely chiral blue phases, chiral nematic phases featuring both twist and splay deformations, chiral biaxial nematic phases with one of the axes twisted, can be obtained by varying particle biaxiality and chirality. Our results allow to identify general guidelines for the stabilization of these phases. PMID:27067806

We investigate theoretically the photoassociation dynamics of ultracold 85Rb atoms driven by second- and third-order phase-modulated laser fields. The interplay between the second-order and third-order terms of the phase-modulated pulse has an obvious influence on photoassociation dynamics. The different combinations of the second-order and third-order phase coefficients lead to different pulse shapes. Most of the molecular population in the excited electronic state driven only by the third-order phase pulses can be distributed in a single vibrational level. The second-order term of the phase-modulated pulse can change the instantaneous frequency, and therefore the final population is distributed on several resonant vibrational levels, instead of concentrating on a single level. Although the second- and third-order phase-modulated pulse covers more resonant vibrational levels, the total population on the resonant vibrational levels is much smaller than that controlled only by the third-order phase pulse. In particular, the third-order term of the phase-modulated pulse can weaken the ‘multiple interaction’ to some degree.

Predicting the macroscopic chiral behaviour of liquid crystals from the microscopic chirality of the particles is highly non-trivial, even when the chiral interactions are purely entropic in nature. Here we introduce a novel chiral hard-particle model, namely particles with a twisted polyhedral shape and obtain a stable fully entropy-driven cholesteric phase by computer simulations. By slightly modifying the triangular base of the particle, we are able to switch from a left-handed prolate (calamitic) to a right-handed oblate (discotic) cholesteric phase using the same right-handed twisted particle model. Furthermore, we show that not only prolate and oblate chiral nematic phases, but also other novel entropy-drivenphases, namely chiral blue phases, chiral nematic phases featuring both twist and splay deformations, chiral biaxial nematic phases with one of the axes twisted, can be obtained by varying particle biaxiality and chirality. Our results allow to identify general guidelines for the stabilization of these phases. PMID:27067806

Temperature dependence of resistivity on KF e2A s2 single crystals down to 20 mK was measured under various hydrostatic pressures up to 17.5 GPa generated in a cubic-anvil cell. With increasing the pressure, the superconducting transition of tetragonal KF e2A s2 was suppressed gradually and disappears completely at ˜11 GPa, which was related to the weakening of electronic correlations and/or critical fluctuations under pressure. In sharp contrast to previous reports, no superconductingphase emerges upon further increasing pressures until the collapsed tetragonal KF e2A s2 forms. We argue that such a discrepancy can be attributed to the different pressure apparatus or homogeneity.

We propose a quantum processor for the scalable quantum computation on microwave photons in distant one-dimensional superconducting resonators. It is composed of a common resonator R acting as a quantum bus and some distant resonators rj coupled to the bus in different positions assisted by superconducting quantum interferometer devices (SQUID), different from previous processors. R is coupled to one transmon qutrit, and the coupling strengths between rj and R can be fully tuned by the external flux through the SQUID. To show the processor can be used to achieve universal quantum computation effectively, we present a scheme to complete the high-fidelity quantum state transfer between two distant microwave-photon resonators and another one for the high-fidelity controlled-phase gate on them. By using the technique for catching and releasing the microwave photons from resonators, our processor may play an important role in quantum communication as well.

We propose a quantum processor for the scalable quantum computation on microwave photons in distant one-dimensional superconducting resonators. It is composed of a common resonator R acting as a quantum bus and some distant resonators rj coupled to the bus in different positions assisted by superconducting quantum interferometer devices (SQUID), different from previous processors. R is coupled to one transmon qutrit, and the coupling strengths between rj and R can be fully tuned by the external flux through the SQUID. To show the processor can be used to achieve universal quantum computation effectively, we present a scheme to complete the high-fidelity quantum state transfer between two distant microwave-photon resonators and another one for the high-fidelity controlled-phase gate on them. By using the technique for catching and releasing the microwave photons from resonators, our processor may play an important role in quantum communication as well. PMID:26907366

We propose a quantum processor for the scalable quantum computation on microwave photons in distant one-dimensional superconducting resonators. It is composed of a common resonator R acting as a quantum bus and some distant resonators rj coupled to the bus in different positions assisted by superconducting quantum interferometer devices (SQUID), different from previous processors. R is coupled to one transmon qutrit, and the coupling strengths between rj and R can be fully tuned by the external flux through the SQUID. To show the processor can be used to achieve universal quantum computation effectively, we present a scheme to complete the high-fidelity quantum state transfer between two distant microwave-photon resonators and another one for the high-fidelity controlled-phase gate on them. By using the technique for catching and releasing the microwave photons from resonators, our processor may play an important role in quantum communication as well. PMID:26907366

In his original work, Josephson predicted that a phase-dependent conductance should be present in superconducting tunnel junctions, an effect difficult to detect, mainly because it is hard to single it out from the usual nondissipative Josephson current. We propose a solution for this problem that consists of using different superconducting materials to realize the two junctions of a superconducting interferometer. According to the Ambegaokar-Baratoff relation the two junctions have different conductances if the critical currents are equal, thus the Josephson current can be suppressed by fixing the magnetic flux in the loop at half of a flux quantum without canceling the phase-dependent conductance. Our proposal can be used to study the phase-dependent conductance, an effect present in principle in all superconducting weak links. From the standpoint of nonlinear circuit theory, such a device is in fact an ideal memristor with possible applications to memories and neuromorphic computing in the framework of ultrafast and low-energy-consumption superconducting digital circuits.

Polonium is the only element which has the simple-cubic (SC) structure in the periodic table. We have studied its structural stability based on the phonon dispersion calculations using the first-principles all-electron full-potential band method. We have demonstrated that the strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in SC-Po suppresses the Peierls instability and makes the SC structure stable. We have also discussed the structural chirality realized in beta-Po, as a consequence of the phonon instability. Further, we have investigated the possible superconductivity in SC-Po, and predicted that it becomes a superconductor with Tc ~ 4 K at ambient pressure. The transverse soft phonon mode at q ~ 2/3 R, which is greatly affected by the SOC, plays an important role both in the structural stability and the superconductivity in SC-Po. We have explored effects of the SOC and the volume variation on the phonon dispersions and superconducting properties of SC-Po.

We discuss phase-locking phenomenon at low-level of quanta and quantum statistics for parametrically driven nonlinear Kerr resonator (PDNR). Oscillatory mode of PDNR is created in the process of a degenerate down-conversion of photons under interaction with a train of external Gaussian pulses. We calculate the distribution of photon-number states, the second-order correlation function of photons, the Wigner functions of cavity mode showing two-fold symmetry in phase space, and we analyze formation of phase-locked states in the regular as well as the quantum chaotic regime of the PDNR.

The superconducting and lattice properties of {delta}-MoC{sub 0.681} were studied by electromagnetic measurements, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, and electron diffraction. The superconducting properties (T{sub c}=12 K) of {delta}-MoC{sub 0.681} were well characterized by a weak coupling model. The carbon vacancies present in the host cubic structure were found to be robust, although the material was synthesized from stoichiometric carbon and Mo powder under a high-pressure of 6 GPa. A thermodynamically-stable structure with ordered vacancies did not account for the robust features of {delta}-MoC{sub 0.681} since the vacancies are unlikely to be ordered in long range in the host structure. A model based on inherent phonon instability theoretically predicted for a stoichiometric MoC phase might be responsible for the robust features of {delta}-MoC{sub 0.681}. - Graphical Abstract: The cubic molybdenum carbide shows an excellent superconductivity with robust carbon vacancies. Inherent phonon instability theoretically predicted for a stoichiometric MoC phase might be responsible for the vacancies rather than a thermodynamically-stable structure with vacancies ordering. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The 12 K superconductivity is well characterized by a weakly coupling model. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Carbon vacancies are robust and disordered in the cubic host structure. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Inherent phonon instability might be responsible for the robust carbon vacancies in {delta}-MoC{sub 0.681}.

Here, we report how the superconductingphase forms in pseudo-single-crystal KxFe2-ySe2. In situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation reveals that, as an order-disorder transition occurs, on cooling, most of the high-temperature iron-vacancy-disordered phase gradually changes into the iron-vacancy-ordered phase whereas a small quantity of the high-temperature phase retains its structure and aggregates to the stripes with more iron concentration but less potassium concentration compared to the iron-vacancy-ordered phase. The stripes that are generally recognized as the superconductingphase are actually formed as a remnant of the high-temperature phase with a compositional change after an “imperfect” order-disorder transition. It should bemore » emphasized that the phase separation in pseudo-single-crystal KxFe2-ySe2 is caused by the iron-vacancy order-disorder transition. The shrinkage of the high-temperature phase and the expansion of the newly created iron-vacancy-ordered phase during the phase separation rule out the mechanism of spinodal decomposition proposed in an early report [Wang et al, Phys. Rev. B 91, 064513 (2015)]. Since the formation of the superconductingphase relies on the occurrence of the iron-vacancy order-disorder transition, it is impossible to synthesize a pure superconductingphase by a conventional solid state reaction or melt growth. By focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy, we further demonstrate that the superconductingphase forms a contiguous three-dimensional architecture composed of parallelepipeds that have a coherent orientation relationship with the iron-vacancy-ordered phase.« less

Critical supercurrents, Ic in Nbsbnd Cu1- xNixsbnd Nb Josephson SFS junctions with F-layers prepared from ferromagnetic Cu1- xNix alloys have been studied. For value x=0.52 and particular F-layer thickness we have observed Ic( T) oscillations with Ic vanishing for some values of T. We associate this reentrant superconducting behavior with a crossover of the SFS junction from ‘0’- to ‘π’-state that is related to temperature dependence of spatial oscillation period of induced superconducting order parameter in the weak ferromagnet. We argue this is the first experimental evidence of the π-behavior of a Josephson junction, that is the special feature of superconducting pair flow through a ferromagnet predicted for SFS junctions by Bulaevskii, Buzdin et al [1].

Phase-change materials are functionally important materials that can be thermally interconverted between metallic (crystalline) and semiconducting (amorphous) phases on a very short time scale. Although the interconversion appears to involve a change in local atomic coordination numbers, the electronic basis for this process is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that in a nearly vacancy-free binary GeSb system where we can drive the phase change both thermally and, as we discover, by pressure, the transformation into the amorphous phase is electronic in origin. Correlations between conductivity, total system energy, and local atomic coordination revealed by experiments and long time ab initio simulations show that the structural reorganization into the amorphous state is driven by opening of an energy gap in the electronic density of states. The electronic driving force behind the phase change has the potential to change the interconversion paradigm in this material class. PMID:19549858

Piezoelectric materials, which convert mechanical to electrical energy and vice versa, are typically characterized by the intimate coexistence of two phases across a morphotropic phase boundary. Electrically switching one to the other yields large electromechanical coupling coefficients. Driven by global environmental concerns, there is currently a strong push to discover practical lead-free piezoelectrics for device engineering. Using a combination of epitaxial growth techniques in conjunction with theoretical approaches, we show the formation of a morphotropic phase boundary through epitaxial constraint in lead-free piezoelectric bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) films. Electric field-dependent studies show that a tetragonal-like phase can be reversibly converted into a rhombohedral-like phase, accompanied by measurable displacements of the surface, making this new lead-free system of interest for probe-based data storage and actuator applications. PMID:19965507

Understanding the nature of superconductivity in iron-based compounds is essential in the development of new strategies to increase T c. Using a charge density analysis based on synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction data, we found that the charge carriers only accumulated in the iron layer of the superconductingphase of LaFeAsO1 − xFx at low temperatures. Analysis of the electrostatic potential distribution revealed the concerted enhancement of the electronic polarization of the As ions and the carrier redistribution. This suggests that the enhanced electronic polarization of the As ion plays an important role in inducing high T c superconductivity, and that the polaron concept, which has been previously regarded as an untenable mechanism, should be reconsidered for the description of the iron–arsenide superconductingphase. PMID:25075333

We investigate the spatial Public Goods Game in the presence of fitness-driven and conformity-driven agents. This framework usually considers only the former type of agents, i.e., agents that tend to imitate the strategy of their fittest neighbors. However, whenever we study social systems, the evolution of a population might be affected also by social behaviors as conformism, stubbornness, altruism, and selfishness. Although the term evolution can assume different meanings depending on the considered domain, here it corresponds to the set of processes that lead a system towards an equilibrium or a steady state. We map fitness to the agents' payoff so that richer agents are those most imitated by fitness-driven agents, while conformity-driven agents tend to imitate the strategy assumed by the majority of their neighbors. Numerical simulations aim to identify the nature of the transition, on varying the amount of the relative density of conformity-driven agents in the population, and to study the nature of related equilibria. Remarkably, we find that conformism generally fosters ordered cooperative phases and may also lead to bistable behaviors.

Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) and other superconducting circuits are limited by intrinsic flux noise with spectral density 1 /fα with α < 1 whose origin is believed to be due to spin impurities. We present a theory of flux noise in the presence of phase transitions and arbitrary spin textures in the impurity spin system. At higher temperatures we find that the spin-spin correlation length scale (describing, e.g., the average size of ferromagnetic spin clusters) greatly impacts the scaling of flux noise with wire geometry. At lower temperatures we find that flux noise is quite sensitive to the particular spin texture realized by the spin system ground state. Remarkably, we show that flux-noise is exactly equal to zero when the spins form a poloidal texture. Flux noise is nonzero for other spin textures, but gets reduced in the presence of correlated ferromagnetic fluctuations between the top and bottom wire surfaces, where the flux vectors are antiparallel. This demonstrates the idea of engineering spin textures and/or intersurface correlation as a method to reduce flux noise in superconducting circuits. This research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN/342982-2010, EGP/429649-2012) through its Discovery and Engage programs.

We report here the magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity measurements of W5-xTaxSiB2. W5-xTaxSiB2 crystallizes in a tetragonal (the Mo5SiB2 (T2 phase) type) structure. We evaluated the effect of the partial substitution of Ta in W5SiB2. The superconductivity was observed below x = 2 in W5-xTaxSiB2. As substituted Ta for W, the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) clearly enhanced from 5.8 K to 6.5 K. The largest volume fraction exhibits at x = 0.2 sample. Thus, this work shows, for the first time, the superconductivity in W5-xTaxSiB2. Moreover, we determined that the dominant carrier sign of W5SiB2 are the hole from the thermoelectric power measurement and discussed about the enhancement of Tc of W5-xTaxSiB2 system.

We present measurements of the superconducting upper critical field Hc2(T) and the magneticphasediagram of the superconductor ErNi2B2C made with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The magnetic field was applied in the basal plane of the tetragonal crystal structure. We have found large gapless regions in the superconductingphasediagram of ErNi2B2C, extending between different magnetic transitions. A close correlation between magnetic transitions and Hc2(T) is found, showing that superconductivity is strongly linked to magnetism.

We study the structural correlations and the nonlinear response to a driving force of a two-dimensional phase-field-crystal model with random pinning. The model provides an effective continuous description of lattice systems in the presence of disordered external pinning centers, allowing for both elastic and plastic deformations. We find that the phase-field crystal with disorder assumes an amorphous glassy ground state, with only short-ranged positional and orientational correlations, even in the limit of weak disorder. Under increasing driving force, the pinned amorphous-glass phase evolves into a moving plastic-flow phase and then, finally, a moving smectic phase. The transverse response of the moving smectic phase shows a vanishing transverse critical force for increasing system sizes. PMID:22060323

The Electrically Driven Single Phase Thermal Management: STP-H5 iEHDS Experiment is a technology demonstration of prototype proof of concept hardware to establish the feasilibilty and long term operation of this hardware. This is a structural thermal plate that will operate continuous as part of the STP-H5 ISEM experiment for up to 18 months. This presentation discusses the design, fabrication and environmental operational paramertes of the experiment hardware.

Silicon films with Ga-rich nanoprecipitates are superconductors or insulators in dependence on their normal state resistance. Even in the insulating state of the film superconducting nanoprecipitates exist below the critical temperature of 7 K and determine its complex transport behavior. In this range sometimes large, random resistance jumps appear that are accompanied by little temperature changes. The resistance fluctuates between a well-defined low-resistance value and a broader band of higher resistances. Jumps to higher resistance are associated with a temperature decrease and vice versa. We present experimental results on these fluctuations and suppose a first order phase transition in the film as probable origin.

We propose a scheme to measure both the current-phase relation and differential conductance dI/dV of a superconducting junction, in the normal and the superconducting states. This is done using a dc Superconducting Quantum Interference Device with two Josephson junctions in parallel with the device under investigation and three contacts. As a demonstration, we measure the current-phase relation and dI/dV of a small Josephson junction and a carbon nanotube junction. In this latter case, in a regime where the nanotube is well conducting, we show that the non-sinusoidal current phase relation we find is consistent with the theory for a weak link, using the transmission extracted from the differential conductance in the normal state. This method holds great promise for future investigations of the current-phase relation of more exotic junctions.

A long, relativistic particle beam propagating in an overdense plasma is subject to the self-modulation instability. This instability is analyzed and the growth rate is calculated, including the phase relation. The phase velocity of the wake is shown to be significantly less than the beam velocity. These results indicate that the energy gain of a plasma accelerator driven by a self-modulated beam will be severely limited by dephasing. In the long-beam, strongly-coupled regime, dephasing is reached in a homogeneous plasma in less than four e-foldings, independent of beam-plasma parameters.

We investigate the collective synchronization of cicada chirping. Using both experimental and phenomenological numerical techniques, here we show that the onset of a periodic two-state acoustic synchronous behavior in cicada chorus depends on a critical size of population Nc = 21, above which a typical chorus state appears periodically with a 30 second-silence state in between, and further clarify its possibility concerning a new class of phase transition, which is unusually driven by population. This work has relevance to acoustic synchronization and to general physics of phase transition.

A long, relativistic particle beam propagating in an overdense plasma is subject to the self-modulation instability. This instability is analyzed and the growth rate is calculated, including the phase relation. The phase velocity of the wake is shown to be significantly less than the beam velocity. These results indicate that the energy gain of a plasma accelerator driven by a self-modulated beam will be severely limited by dephasing. In the long-beam, strongly coupled regime, dephasing is reached in a homogeneous plasma in less than four e foldings, independent of beam-plasma parameters. PMID:22107202

A long, relativistic particle beam propagating in an overdense plasma is subject to the self-modulation instability. This instability is analyzed and the growth rate is calculated, including the phase relation. The phase velocity of the wake is shown to be significantly less than the beam velocity. These results indicate that the energy gain of a plasma accelerator driven by a self-modulated beam will be severely limited by dephasing. In the long-beam, strongly coupled regime, dephasing is reached in a homogeneous plasma in less than four e foldings, independent of beam-plasma parameters.

This paper presents the results of theoretical and experimental development of a new dc-ac-dc converter for superconducting magnet power supplies. The basic operating principles of the circuit are described followed by a theoretical treatment of the dynamics and control of the system. The successful results of the first experimental operation and control of such a circuit are presented and discussed.

We present low-temperature electronic transport properties of superconducting nanowires obtained by nanolithography of 4-nm-thick niobium nitride (NbN) films epitaxially grown on sapphire substrate. Below 6 K, clear evidence of phase slippages is observed in the transport measurements. Upon lowering the temperature, we observe the signatures of a crossover between a thermal and a quantum behavior in the phase slip regimes. We find that phase slips are stable even at the lowest temperatures and that no hotspot is formed. The photoresponse of these nanowires is measured as a function of the light irradiation wavelength and temperature and exhibits a behavior comparable with previous results obtained on thicker films. PMID:22694480

Polycrystalline samples of YBa2Cu3-xNixO7-δ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25) (YBCNO) were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, temperature dependent x-ray diffraction, Rietveld refinement with the help of the bond valence sum method, magnetic moment-temperature measurement and combinative energy calculation between the two structural blocks, perovskite and rock salt. It was observed that there are two thermal anomalies of weight loss and heat flow change at about 400 and 850 °C in each sample before melting. By careful measurement it was found that the weight loss and endothermal absorption, as well as the critical temperature Tc, decrease with the increase of dopant. Combining the theory of oxygen diffusion with the block model in YBCO, the mechanism of the phase transitions can be explained as follows: the phase transition at 400 °C comes directly from O(1) in the rock salt block, while the phase transition at 850 °C corresponds to O(2) and O(3) in the Cu(2)-O plane. When a phase transition occurs, the oxygen at O(2) and O(3) sites is rearranged and a few oxygen atoms enter the O(1) site of the Cu(1)-O plane through the O(4) bridge atoms, finally escaping from the crystal cell. Thus the phase transition at 850 °C is related to the perovskite block. The calculation of the combinative energy between the rock salt and perovskite blocks shows that with increasing Ni content, the higher the combinative energy and the lower the Tc. The results indicate that there is a close relationship among thermal phase transitions, superconductivity and structural blocks in YBCNO, which may be significant for understanding the mechanism of high temperature superconductivity.

Indistinguishable particles in two dimensions can be characterized by anyonic quantum statistics, which is more general than that of bosons or fermions. Anyons emerge as quasiparticles in fractional quantum Hall states and in certain frustrated quantum magnets. Quantum liquids of anyons show degenerate ground states, where the degeneracy depends on the topology of the underlying surface. Here, we present a new type of continuous quantum phase transition in such anyonic quantum liquids, which is driven by quantum fluctuations of the topology. The critical state connecting two anyonic liquids on surfaces with different topologies is reminiscent of the notion of a `quantum foam' with fluctuations on all length scales. This exotic quantum phase transition arises in a microscopic model of interacting anyons for which we present an exact solution in a linear geometry. We introduce an intuitive physical picture of this model that unifies string nets and loop gases, and provide a simple description of topological quantum phases and their phase transitions.

We report on the transport properties of single superconducting lead nanowires grown by an electrodeposition technique, embedded in a nanoporous track-etched polymer membrane. The nanowires are granular, have a uniform diameter of ~40 nm and a very large aspect ratio (~500). The diameter of the nanowires is small enough to ensure a one-dimensional superconducting regime in a wide temperature range below Tc. The non-zero resistance in the superconducting state and its variation caused by fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter were measured versus temperature, magnetic field, and applied dc current (or voltage). The current-induced breakdowns in the voltage-current characteristics may be explained by the formation of phase slip centres. Moreover, dc voltage driven measurements reveal the existence of a new S-shape behaviour near the formation of these phase slip centres.

Magnetism of the MoS2 semiconducting atomic layer was highlighted for its great potential in the applications of spintronics and valleytronics. In this study, we demonstrate an evolution of magneto-electrical properties of single layer MoS2 with the modulation of defect configurations and formation of a partial 1T phase. With Ar treatment, sulfur was depleted within the MoS2 flake leading to a 2H (low-spin) --> partial 1T (high-spin) phase transition. The phase transition was accompanied by the development of a ferromagnetic phase. Alternatively, the phase transition could be driven by the desorption of S atoms at the edge of MoS2via O2 treatment while with a different ordering magnitude in magnetism. The edge-sensitive magnetism of the single-layer MoS2 was monitored by magnetic force microscopy and validated by a first-principle calculation with graded-Vs (sulfur vacancy) terminals set at the edge, where band-splitting appeared more prominent with increasing Vs. Treatment with Ar and O2 enabled a dual electrical characteristic of the field effect transistor (FET) that featured linear and saturated responses of different magnitudes in the Ids-Vds curves, whereas the pristine MoS2 FET displayed only a linear electrical dependency. The correlation and tuning of the Vs-1T phase transition would provide a playground for tailoring the phase-driven properties of MoS2 semiconducting atomic layers in spintronic applications.Magnetism of the MoS2 semiconducting atomic layer was highlighted for its great potential in the applications of spintronics and valleytronics. In this study, we demonstrate an evolution of magneto-electrical properties of single layer MoS2 with the modulation of defect configurations and formation of a partial 1T phase. With Ar treatment, sulfur was depleted within the MoS2 flake leading to a 2H (low-spin) --> partial 1T (high-spin) phase transition. The phase transition was accompanied by the development of a ferromagnetic phase. Alternatively, the

Coherent A1 g phonon mode in a thin film superconductor FeSe0.5Te0.5 was generated and detected using ultrafast laser pulses. At below and above the transition temperature Tc, the coherent lattice oscillation we observed exhibited a π/2 phase difference, manifesting a ``displacive limit ~ impulsive limit'' transition upon crossing a phase transition within the same sample. We ascribe this π/2 phase difference to the different lifetimes (τc) of excited charge density components that couples to the fully symmetric A1 g phonon mode, i.e. the different strength of electron-phonon couplings. In the superconducting and paramagnetic metallic states the lifetimes of such carrier excitations are largely different. Our investigation reveals possible correlation of superconducting electrons with zone-center optical phonons. Our 170nm thin film sample contains tension stress, which leads to enhanced Tc and thus facilitated our measurements. Financially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2012CB821402), the NSFC (11274372, 10974246) and the External Cooperation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (GJHZ1403).

and by invited authors selected by the editor. We are grateful to IUPAP, ICTP and the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, United States Air Force Laboratory. We would like to acknowledge the authors for their careful work, and finally we thank Dr L Smith the publisher of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter for her patience and help. Superconducting materials contents Raman spectrum in the pseudogap phase of the underdoped cuprates: effect of phase coherence and the signature of the KT-type superconducting transitionTao Li and Haijun Liao Pressure effects on Dirac fermions in α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3Takahiro Himura, Takao Morinari and Takami Tohyama Effect of Zn doping in hole-type 1111 phase (Pr, Sr)FeAsOXiao Lin, Chenyi Shen, Chen Lv, Jianjian Miao, Hao Tan, Guanghan Cao and Zhu-An Xu Superconductivity and ferromagnetism in EuFe2(As1 - xPx)2*Guanghan Cao, Shenggao Xu, Zhi Ren, Shuai Jiang, Chunmu Feng and Zhu'an Xu OInhomogeneous superconductivity in organic conductors: the role of disorder and magnetic fieldS Haddad, S Charfi-Kaddour and J-P Pouget

We study polymer depletion-driven cluster aggregation and initial phase separation in aqueous dispersions of charge-stabilized silica spheres, where the ionic strength and polymer (dextran) concentration are systematically varied, using dynamic light scattering and visual observation. Without polymers and for increasing salt and colloid content, the dispersions become increasingly unstable against irreversible cluster formation. By adding nonadsorbing polymers, a depletion-driven attraction is induced, which lowers the stabilizing Coulomb barrier and enhances the cluster growth rate. The initial growth rate increases with increasing polymer concentration and decreases with increasing polymer molar mass. These observations can be quantitatively understood by an irreversible dimer formation theory based on the classical Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek pair potential, with the depletion attraction modeled by the Asakura-Oosawa-Vrij potential. At low colloid concentration, we observe an exponential cluster growth rate for all polymer concentrations considered, indicating a reaction-limited aggregation mechanism. At sufficiently high polymer and colloid concentrations, and lower salt content, a gas-liquidlike demixing is observed initially. Later on, the system separates into a gel and fluidlike phase. The experimental time-dependent state diagram is compared to the theoretical equilibrium phase diagram obtained from a generalized free-volume theory and is discussed in terms of an initial reversible phase separation process in combination with irreversible aggregation at later times. PMID:19485479

Magnetism of the MoS2 semiconducting atomic layer was highlighted for its great potential in the applications of spintronics and valleytronics. In this study, we demonstrate an evolution of magneto-electrical properties of single layer MoS2 with the modulation of defect configurations and formation of a partial 1T phase. With Ar treatment, sulfur was depleted within the MoS2 flake leading to a 2H (low-spin) → partial 1T (high-spin) phase transition. The phase transition was accompanied by the development of a ferromagnetic phase. Alternatively, the phase transition could be driven by the desorption of S atoms at the edge of MoS2via O2 treatment while with a different ordering magnitude in magnetism. The edge-sensitive magnetism of the single-layer MoS2 was monitored by magnetic force microscopy and validated by a first-principle calculation with graded-Vs (sulfur vacancy) terminals set at the edge, where band-splitting appeared more prominent with increasing Vs. Treatment with Ar and O2 enabled a dual electrical characteristic of the field effect transistor (FET) that featured linear and saturated responses of different magnitudes in the Ids-Vds curves, whereas the pristine MoS2 FET displayed only a linear electrical dependency. The correlation and tuning of the Vs-1T phase transition would provide a playground for tailoring the phase-driven properties of MoS2 semiconducting atomic layers in spintronic applications. PMID:26892905

We investigated the effects of Se substitution on the lattice constants and superconducting properties of CeO0.5F0.5Bi(S1-xSex)2. With increasing Se concentration, the a lattice constant increased, while the c lattice constant did not show any significant increase between x = 0.1 and x = 0.5. Bulk superconductivity was observed in samples with x = 0.2-0.4, and the superconducting transition temperature was the highest at x = 0.3. The obtained superconductivityphase diagram was compared to those of LaO0.5F0.5Bi(S1-xSex)2 and NdO0.5F0.5Bi(S1-xSex)2.

The lattice dynamic, elastic, superconducting, and thermodynamic properties of the high-pressure cubic metallic phase AlH3 are studied within density function theory. The calculated elastic modulus and phonon dispersion curves at various pressures indicate that the cubic phase is both mechanically and dynamically stable above 73 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature was calculated using Allen-Dynes modification of the McMillan formula based on the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory. It is found that Tc approaches a linear decrease in the low pressure range at the rate dTC/dP ≈-0.22 K/GPa but gradually decreases exponentially at higher pressure, and then it becomes 0 K upon further compression. The calculations indicate that Tc is about 2.042 K at 110 GPa, in agreement with experimental results. The soft phonon modes, especially the lowest acoustic mode, contribute almost 79% to the total electron-phonon coupling parameter sλ for cubic AlH3 at 73 GPa. However, they disappear gradually with increasing pressure, showing a responsibility for the variation of Tc. The thermodynamic properties of cubic AlH3, such as the dependence of thermal expansion coefficient αV on pressure and temperature, the specific heat capacity CP, as well as the electronic specific heat coefficient Cel, were also investigated by the quasi-harmonic approximation theory.

In the context of gas turbine combustion chambers, this study describes how slip affects the response time of fuel sprays to pressure fluctuations in a gaseous flow field. Slip between the condensed and gas phases is shown to cause fuel vapor mass fraction fluctuations upstream of the reaction zone. A resulting oscillating heat release can drive the pressure fluctuations, depending on the phase difference between them. This generates an acoustic instability. With relevance to previous experimental results, differences are explored in the evaporation characteristics among three different fuel sprays (JP-4, JP-5, and D-2) in relation to their effect on the magnitude of the fuel vapor mass fraction perturbations.

The results of two experimental studies of the superconducting transition temperature, T/sub c/, of palladium hydride, PdH/sub x/, and palladium deuteride, PdD/sub x/, are presented. In the first study, the superconducting transition temperature of PdH/sub x/(D/sub x/) is studied as a function of H(D) concentration, x, in the temperature range from 0.2 K to 4K. The data join smoothly with those reported previously by Miller and Satterthwaite at higher temperatures, and the composite data are described by the empirical relation T/sub c/ = 150.8 (x-x/sub o/)/sup 2/ /sup 244/, where x/sub o/ = 0.715 for hydride samples and 0.668 for deuteride samples. The results, when compared with the theoretical predictions of Klein and Papaconstantopoulos, et al., raise questions about the validity of their explanation of the reverse isotope effect, which is based solely on a difference in force constants. In the second study, the effect of the order-disorder structural transition associated with the 50 K anomaly on the superconductivity of PdH/sub x/(D/sub x/) is investigated. Samples were quenched to low temperatures in the disordered state, and their transition temperatures measured. The samples were then annealed just below the anomaly temperature, and the ordering process followed by monitoring the change in sample resistance. The transition temperatures in the ordered state were then measured.

Motivated by the growth of superconducting atomic hexagonal Ga layers on GaN surface we have calculated the electronic properties of Hf intercalated honeycomb Ga layers using first-principles theory. In contrast to the hexagonal Ga layers where substrate is necessary for their stability, we find the above structure to be dynamically stable in its freestanding form with small formation energy. In particular, six Dirac cones composed of Hf-dxy/dx2-y2 orbitals are observed in the first Brillouin zone, slightly below the Fermi energy. Spin-orbit coupling opens a large band gap of 177 meV on these Dirac cones. By calculating its mirror Chern number, we demonstrate that this band gap is topologically nontrivial and protected by mirror symmetry. Such mirror symmetry protected band gaps are rare in hexagonal lattice. A large topological crystalline quantum spin Hall conductance σSH ˜ -4 e2/h is also revealed. Moreover, electron-phonon coupling calculations reveal that this material is superconducting with a transition temperature Tc = 2.4 K, mainly contributed by Ga out-of-plane vibrations. Our results provide a route toward manipulating quantum spin Hall and superconducting behaviors in a single material which helps to realize Majorana fermions and topological superconductors.

We investigate the phase behavior of a system of hard equilateral and right-angled triangles in two dimensions using Monte Carlo simulations. Hard equilateral triangles undergo a continuous isotropic-triatic liquid crystal phase transition at packing fraction ϕ = 0.7. Similarly, hard right-angled isosceles triangles exhibit a first-order phase transition from an isotropic fluid phase to a rhombic liquid crystal phase with a coexistence region ϕ ∈ [0.733, 0.782]. Both these liquid crystals undergo a continuous phase transition to their respective close-packed crystal structures at high pressures. Although the particles and their close-packed crystals are both achiral, the solid phases of equilateral and right-angled triangles exhibit spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking at sufficiently high packing fractions. The colloidal triangles rotate either in the clockwise or anti-clockwise direction with respect to one of the lattice vectors for packing fractions higher than ϕχ. As a consequence, these triangles spontaneously form a regular lattice of left- or right-handed chiral holes which are surrounded by six triangles in the case of equilateral triangles and four or eight triangles for right-angled triangles. Moreover, our simulations show a spontaneous entropy-driven demixing transition of the right- and left-handed "enantiomers". PMID:26376756

A procedure for synthesizing Y1Ba2Cu3O(x) by solid state reactions was developed. The method is based on the use of barium compounds, previously synthesized, as intermediate phases for the process. The reaction kinetics of this procedure were established between 860 C and 920 C. The crystal structure and the presence of second phases were studied by means of XRD. The sintering behavior and ceramic parameters were also determined. The orthorhombic type-I structure was obtained on the synthesized bodies after a cooling cycle in an air atmosphere. Superconducting transition took place at 91 K. Sintering densities higher than 95 percent D sub th were attained at temperatures below 940 C.

Spatio-temporal chaos in parametrically driven waves is investigated in one and two dimensions using numerical simulations of Ginzburg-Landau equations. A regime is identified in which in one dimension the dynamics are due to double phase slips. In very small systems they are found to arise through a Hopf bifurcation off a mixed mode. In large systems they can lead to a state of localized spatio-temporal chaos, which can be understood within the framework of phase dynamics. In two dimensions the double phase slips are replaced by bound defect pairs. Our simulations indicate the possibility of an unbinding transition of these pairs, which is associated with a transition from ordered to disordered defect chaos.

The superconducting heavy ion linear accelerator at Inter-University Accelerator Centre Delhi has been in operation since 2007. Initially, the superconducting niobium Quarter Wave Resonators (QWRs) in the linac were phase locked using a combination of electronic and mechanical controls which operated in fast (~10 μsec) and slow (~sec) time scales respectively. In this scheme, fast control was achieved through dynamic phase control whereas slow control of the frequency was done through the niobium tuner bellows installed at the drift tube end of the resonator and flexed using helium gas to change the resonance frequency. In order to improve the dynamics of this control system, an alternate scheme using piezoelectric actuator, instead of helium gas, to flex the same niobium bellows, has been implemented in the QWRs of the second and third accelerating modules of the linac. The piezoelectric actuator is used in closed loop along with the fast dynamic phase control scheme. The feedback loop of the piezoelectric control includes a dual control scheme - an integral control loop to arrest the slow drift, and the positive position feedback (PPF) based control loop to damp the microphonics. This control scheme has been found to arrest slow drifts in the resonator frequency more tightly along with damping of low frequency microphonics (~few tens of Hz) picked up by the resonator from its surrounding environment. This has substantially eased the load from the fast electronic control, resulting in the reduction of the radio frequency (RF) power requirement during operation. In addition, it has improved the stability of phase and amplitude of the QWRs. The details of the new scheme along with results obtained during the online run of the linac for beam acceleration are presented.

The piezoelectricity of (K,Na)NbO3 ceramics strongly depends on the phase boundary types as well as the doped compositions. Here, we systematically studied the relationships between the compositions and phase boundary types in (K,Na) (Nb,Sb)O3-Bi0.5Na0.5AO3 (KNNS-BNA, A=Hf, Zr, Ti, Sn) ceramics; then their piezoelectricity can be readily modified. Their phase boundary types are determined by the doped elements. A rhombohedral-tetragonal (R-T) phase boundary can be driven in the compositions range of 0.035≤BNH≤0.040 and 0.035≤BNZ≤0.045; an orthorhombic-tetragonal (O-T) phase boundary is formed in the composition range of 0.005≤BNT≤0.02; and a pure O phase can be only observed regardless of BNS content (≤0.01). In addition, the phase boundary types strongly affect their corresponding piezoelectricities. A larger d33 (∼440-450 pC/N) and a higher d33* (∼742-834 pm/V) can be attained in KNNS-BNA (A=Zr and Hf) ceramics due to the involvement of R-T phase boundary, and unfortunately KNNS-BNA (A=Sn and Ti) ceramics possess a relatively poor piezoelectricity (d33≤200 and d33*<600 pm/V) due to the involvement of other phase structures (O-T or O). In addition, the underlying physical mechanisms for the relationships between piezoelectricity and phase boundary types were also discussed. We believe that comprehensive research can design more excellent ceramic systems concerning potassium-sodium niobate. PMID:26302094

The dynamical backaction from a periodically driven optical cavity can reduce the damping of a mechanical resonator, leading to parametric instability accompanied by self-sustained oscillations. Here we study experimentally and theoretically new aspects of the backaction and the discrete time-translation symmetry of a driven system using a micromechanical resonator with two nonlinearly coupled vibrational modes with strongly differing frequencies and decay rates. We find self-sustained oscillations in both the low- and high-frequency modes. Their frequencies and amplitudes are determined by the nonlinearity, which also leads to bistability and hysteresis. The phase fluctuations of the two modes show near-perfect anti-correlation, a consequence of the discrete time-translation symmetry. Concurrently, the phase of each mode undergoes anomalous diffusion. The phase variance follows a power law time dependence, with an exponent determined by the 1/f-type resonator frequency noise. Our findings enable compensating for the fluctuations using a feedback scheme to achieve stable frequency downconversion. PMID:27576597

The superconductor at the LaAlO3—SrTiO3 interface provides a model system for the study of two-dimensional superconductivity in the dilute carrier density limit. Here we experimentally address the pairing mechanism in this superconductor. We extract the electron—phonon spectral function from tunneling spectra and conclude, without ruling out contributions of further pairing channels, that electron—phonon mediated pairing is strong enough to account for the superconducting critical temperatures. Furthermore, we discuss the electron—phonon coupling in relation to the superconductingphase diagram. The electron—phonon spectral function is independent of the carrier density, except for a small part of the phase diagram in the underdoped region. The tunneling measurements reveal that the increase of the chemical potential with increasing carrier density levels off and is zero in the overdoped region of the phase diagram. This indicates that the additionally induced carriers do not populate the band that hosts the superconducting state and that the superconducting order parameter therefore is weakened by the presence of charge carriers in another band. PMID:26169351

Ca(Fe1-xRhx)2As2 undergoes successive phase transitions with increasing Rh doping in the T = 0 limit. The antiferromagnetic-metal phase with orthorhombic structure at 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.020 is driven to a superconductingphase with uncollapsed-tetragonal (ucT) structure at 0.020 ≤ x ≤ 0.024; a non-superconducting collapsed-tetragonal (cT) phase takes over at x ≥ 0.024. The breakdown of Fermi-liquid transport is observed in the ucT phase above Tc. In the adjacent cT phase, Fermi-liquid transport is restored along with a disappearance of superconductivity. This interplay of superconductivity and Fermi-liquid transport suggests the essential role of magnetic fluctuations in the emergence of superconductivity in doped CaFe2As2.

Titanium alloys are employed in demanding engineering applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and their resistance to corrosion. Pure titanium and titanium with high levels of oxygen impurities were studied under laser-driven shock compression at the Matter in Extreme Conditions endstation at the Linac Coherent Light Source. In situ x-ray diffraction data were acquired during compression, showing the lattice-level response of titanium as it underwent plastic deformation and phase transformation. The kinetics of these processes and the influence of oxygen impurities on the deformation behavior will be presented.

We study a chain of magnetic moments exchange coupled to a conventional three-dimensional superconductor. In the normal state the chain orders into a collinear configuration, while in the superconductingphase we find that ferromagnetism is unstable to the formation of a magnetic spiral state. Beyond weak exchange coupling the spiral wave vector greatly exceeds the inverse superconducting coherence length as a result of the strong spin-spin interaction mediated through the subgap band of Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states. Moreover, the simple spin-spin exchange description breaks down as the subgap band crosses the Fermi energy, wherein the spiral phase becomes stabilized by the spontaneous opening of a p -wave superconducting gap within the band. This leads to the possibility of electron-driven topological superconductivity with Majorana boundary modes using magnetic atoms on superconducting surfaces.

Iron-based superconductor KxFe2-ySe 2 has generated considerable attention having higher critical temperature (~31 K)* than previously reported FeSe series (~8 K) and showing a unique phase separation with Fe vacancy order. We investigate the effect of the chemical substitution to the ground state and report various ground states such as spin glass phase and superconductor-insulator transition (SIT) under high-magnetic field by substitution of Na, Te, and Ni on KxFe2-ySe 2 single crystal. The normal-state in-plane resistivity below Tc and the upper critical field for KxFe2-ySe1.85Te0.15 and K0.50Na0.24Fe2-ySe2 are measured by suppressing superconductivity in pulsed magnetic fields. The normal-state resistivity is found to increase logarithmically as T/T c goes to 0 with decreasing temperature similar to granular superconductors and Cu-based high-Tc superconductors. Our results suggest that SIT may be induced in high magnetic fields, which is related to the intrinsic real space phase separated states. We also present a ground state change of KxFe2-delta-yNiySe2 (0.06≤y≤1.44) single crystal alloys. Small amount of Ni (~ 4%) substitution suppresses superconductivity below 1.8 K and for higher Ni content insulating spin glass magnetic ground state is induced.

Superconductivity in CaFe2-xNixAs2 emerges in close proximity to an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordered parent state and the AFM phase overlaps with superconducting (SC) phase for a small range of x-values. We present scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy study of an underdoped CaFe2-xNixAs2 single crystal in the vicinity of the boundary of the two phases. Both resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements show a superconducting TC of 15 K and from later we deduce a superconducting fraction of 1.2%. Topographic images show reasonably flat surface with signatures of atomic resolution. Spectra between 120 K and 20 K are spatially homogeneous and show signatures of spin density wave (SDW) gap. Below TC, spectra show significant spatial inhomogeneity with a depression in density of states in±5 meV energy range. Inhomogeneity reduces significantly as the temperature goes above TC and disappears completely far above TC. These observations are discussed in terms of an inhomogeneous electronic phase that may exist due to the vicinity of this composition to the SC dome boundary on the underdoped side of the phase diagram.

In this study, we use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-resolution x-ray and neutron scattering to study structural and magnetic phase transitions in phosphorus-doped BaFe2(As1-xPx)2. Thus, previous transport, NMR, specific heat, and magnetic penetration depth measurements have provided compelling evidence for the presence of a quantum critical point (QCP) near optimal superconductivity at x = 0.3. However, we show that the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic structural (Ts) and paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic (AF, TN) transitions in BaFe2(As1-xPx)2 are always coupled and approach to TN ≈ Ts ≥ Tc (≈ 29 K) for x = 0.29 before vanishing abruptly for x ≥ 0.3. These results suggestmore » that AF order in BaFe2(As1-xPx)2 disappears in a weakly first order fashion near optimal superconductivity, much like the electron-doped iron pnictides with an avoided QCP.« less

One of the more striking problems for the synthesis of the Y1Ba2Cu3Ox compound is the high-temperature decomposition of the BaCO3. This compound is present as raw material or as an intermediate compound in chemical processes such as amorphous citrate, coprecipitation oxalate, sol-gel process, acetate pyrolisis, etc. This fact makes difficult the total formation reaction of the Y1Ba2Cu3Ox phase and leads to the presence of undesirable phases such as the BaCuO2 phase, the 'green phase', Y2BaCuO5 and others. Here, a new procedure to overcome this difficulty is studied. The barium cation is previously combined with yttrium and/or copper to form intermediate compounds which can react between them to give Y1Ba2Cu3Ox. BaY2O4 and BaCu2O3 react according to the equation BaY2O4+3BaCu2O3 yields 2Y1Ba2Cu3Ox. BaY2O4 is a stable compound of the Y2O3-BaO system; BaCu2O3 is an intimate mixture of BaCuO2 and uncombined CuO. The reaction kinetics of these phases have been established between 860 and 920 C. The phase evolution has been determined. The crystal structure of the Y1Ba2Cu3Ox obtained powder was studied. According to the results obtained from the kinetics study the Y1Ba2Cu3Ox the synthesis was performed at temperatures of 910 to 920 C for short treatment times (1 to 2 hours). Pure Y1Ba2Cu3Ox was prepared, which develops orthorombic type I structure despite of the cooling cycle. Superconducting transition took place at 91 K. The sintering behavior and the superconducting properties of sintered samples were studied. Density, microstructure and electrical conductivity were measured. Sintering densities higher than 95 percent D(sub th) were attained at temperatures below 940 C. Relatively fine grained microstructure was observed, and little or no-liquid phase was detected.

In the generic phase diagram of heavy fermion systems, tuning an external parameter such as hydrostatic or chemical pressure modifies the superconducting transition temperature. The superconductingphase forms a dome in the temperature-tuning parameter phase diagram, which is associated with a maximum of the superconducting pairing interaction. Proximity to antiferromagnetism suggests a relation between the disappearance of antiferromagnetic order and superconductivity. We combine muon spin rotation, neutron scattering, and x-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques to gain access to the magnetic and electronic structure of CeCo(In(1-x)Cdx)5 at different time scales. Different magnetic structures are obtained that indicate a magnetic order of itinerant character, coexisting with bulk superconductivity. The suppression of the antiferromagnetic order appears to be driven by a modification of the bandwidth/carrier concentration, implying that the electronic structure and consequently the interplay of superconductivity and magnetism is strongly affected by hydrostatic and chemical pressure. PMID:26224422

In the generic phase diagram of heavy fermion systems, tuning an external parameter such as hydrostatic or chemical pressure modifies the superconducting transition temperature. The superconductingphase forms a dome in the temperature—tuning parameter phase diagram, which is associated with a maximum of the superconducting pairing interaction. Proximity to antiferromagnetism suggests a relation between the disappearance of antiferromagnetic order and superconductivity. We combine muon spin rotation, neutron scattering, and x-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques to gain access to the magnetic and electronic structure of CeCo(In1−xCdx)5 at different time scales. Different magnetic structures are obtained that indicate a magnetic order of itinerant character, coexisting with bulk superconductivity. The suppression of the antiferromagnetic order appears to be driven by a modification of the bandwidth/carrier concentration, implying that the electronic structure and consequently the interplay of superconductivity and magnetism is strongly affected by hydrostatic and chemical pressure. PMID:26224422

This paper presents an approach for realizing a phase difference measurement of a new gyro. A silicon micromachined gyro was mounted on rotating aircraft for aircraft attitude control. Aircraft spin drives the silicon pendulum of a gyro rotating at a high speed so that it can sense the transverse angular velocity of the rotating aircraft based on the gyroscopic precession principle when the aircraft has transverse rotation. In applications of the rotating aircraft single channel control system, such as damping in the attitude stabilization loop, the gyro signal must be kept in sync with the control signal. Therefore, the phase difference between both signals needs to be measured accurately. Considering that phase difference is mainly produced by both the micromachined part and the signal conditioning circuit, a mathematical model has been established and analyzed to determine the gyro's phase frequency characteristics. On the basis of theoretical analysis, a dynamic simulation has been done for a case where the spin frequency is 15 Hz. Experimental results with the proposed measurement method applied to a silicon micromachined gyro driven by a rotating aircraft demonstrate that it is effective in practical applications. Measured curve and numerical analysis of phase frequency characteristic are in accordance, and the error between measurement and simulation is only 5.3%. PMID:23966195

This paper presents an approach for realizing a phase difference measurement of a new gyro. A silicon micromachined gyro was mounted on rotating aircraft for aircraft attitude control. Aircraft spin drives the silicon pendulum of a gyro rotating at a high speed so that it can sense the transverse angular velocity of the rotating aircraft based on the gyroscopic precession principle when the aircraft has transverse rotation. In applications of the rotating aircraft single channel control system, such as damping in the attitude stabilization loop, the gyro signal must be kept in sync with the control signal. Therefore, the phase difference between both signals needs to be measured accurately. Considering that phase difference is mainly produced by both the micromachined part and the signal conditioning circuit, a mathematical model has been established and analyzed to determine the gyro's phase frequency characteristics. On the basis of theoretical analysis, a dynamic simulation has been done for a case where the spin frequency is 15 Hz. Experimental results with the proposed measurement method applied to a silicon micromachined gyro driven by a rotating aircraft demonstrate that it is effective in practical applications. Measured curve and numerical analysis of phase frequency characteristic are in accordance, and the error between measurement and simulation is only 5.3%. PMID:23966195

The work investigates the influence of spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) mechanisms on the dynamics of two synaptically coupled neurons driven by additive external noise. In this setting, the noise signal models synaptic inputs that the pair receives from other neurons in a larger network. We show that in the absence of STDP feedbacks the pair of neurons exhibit oscillations and intermittent synchronization. When the synapse connecting the neurons is supplied with a phase selective feedback mechanism simulating STDP, induced dynamics of spikes in the coupled system resembles a phase locked mode with time lags between spikes oscillating about a specific value. This value, as we show by extensive numerical simulations, can be set arbitrary within a broad interval by tuning parameters of the STDP feedback.

Using first-principles calculations, we show that topological quantum phase transitions are driven by external electric fields in thin films of Sb2Te3. The film, as the applied electric field normal to its surface increases, is transformed from a normal insulator to a topological insulator or vice versa depending on the film thickness. We identify the band topology by directly calculating the invariant from electronic wave functions. The dispersion of edge states is also found to be consistent with the bulk band topology in view of the bulk-boundary correspondence. We present possible applications of the topological phase transition as an on/off switch of the topologically protected edge states in nano-scale devices. PMID:22203972

System of an optically driven quantum gas coupled to a single mode of a leaky cavity offers a unique platform to study open quantum systems. This system displays two exceptional points and a quantum critical point when the drive strength (equivalently, the light-matter coupling) is tuned. Here, we study the non-normal properties of this system especially near these special points. Adapting the rich mathematics behind the theory of pseudo-spectra, we characterize the open quantum phase transitions in this system by studying the fluctuations. Our method offers a novel way to understand physics near criticality beyond the traditional approach of arriving at a phase diagram using the semi-classical solutions arising from a mean field approach. We further show that the quench dynamics of a driven dissipative quantum gas displays a non-Markovian dynamics featuring substantial transient amplification of the photon flux near the critical point. We also investigate the non-Hermitian physics behind two-operator products thereby shining light on higher order quantum correlations in an open quantum system.

X-ray phase-contrast imaging has recently led to a revolution in resolving power and tissue contrast in biomedical imaging, microscopy and materials science. The necessary high spatial coherence is currently provided by either large-scale synchrotron facilities with limited beamtime access or by microfocus X-ray tubes with rather limited flux. X-rays radiated by relativistic electrons driven by well-controlled high-power lasers offer a promising route to a proliferation of this powerful imaging technology. A laser-driven plasma wave accelerates and wiggles electrons, giving rise to a brilliant keV X-ray emission. This so-called betatron radiation is emitted in a collimated beam with excellent spatial coherence and remarkable spectral stability. Here we present a phase-contrast microtomogram of a biological sample using betatron X-rays. Comprehensive source characterization enables the reconstruction of absolute electron densities. Our results suggest that laser-based X-ray technology offers the potential for filling the large performance gap between synchrotron- and current X-ray tube-based sources. PMID:26189811

X-ray phase-contrast imaging has recently led to a revolution in resolving power and tissue contrast in biomedical imaging, microscopy and materials science. The necessary high spatial coherence is currently provided by either large-scale synchrotron facilities with limited beamtime access or by microfocus X-ray tubes with rather limited flux. X-rays radiated by relativistic electrons driven by well-controlled high-power lasers offer a promising route to a proliferation of this powerful imaging technology. A laser-driven plasma wave accelerates and wiggles electrons, giving rise to a brilliant keV X-ray emission. This so-called betatron radiation is emitted in a collimated beam with excellent spatial coherence and remarkable spectral stability. Here we present a phase-contrast microtomogram of a biological sample using betatron X-rays. Comprehensive source characterization enables the reconstruction of absolute electron densities. Our results suggest that laser-based X-ray technology offers the potential for filling the large performance gap between synchrotron- and current X-ray tube-based sources. PMID:26189811

X-ray phase-contrast imaging has recently led to a revolution in resolving power and tissue contrast in biomedical imaging, microscopy and materials science. The necessary high spatial coherence is currently provided by either large-scale synchrotron facilities with limited beamtime access or by microfocus X-ray tubes with rather limited flux. X-rays radiated by relativistic electrons driven by well-controlled high-power lasers offer a promising route to a proliferation of this powerful imaging technology. A laser-driven plasma wave accelerates and wiggles electrons, giving rise to a brilliant keV X-ray emission. This so-called betatron radiation is emitted in a collimated beam with excellent spatial coherence and remarkable spectral stability. Here we present a phase-contrast microtomogram of a biological sample using betatron X-rays. Comprehensive source characterization enables the reconstruction of absolute electron densities. Our results suggest that laser-based X-ray technology offers the potential for filling the large performance gap between synchrotron- and current X-ray tube-based sources.

Quantitative impedance mapping of the spatially inhomogeneous insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) in vanadium dioxide (VO2) is performed with a lateral resolution of 50 nm through near-field scanning microwave microscopy (SMM) at 16 GHz. SMM is used to measure spatially resolved electronic properties of the phase coexistence in an unstrained VO2 film during the electrically as well as thermally induced IMT. A quantitative impedance map of both the electrically driven filamentary conduction and the thermally induced bulk transition is established. This was modeled as a 2-D heterogeneous resistive network where the distribution function of the IMT temperature across the sample is captured. Applying the resistive network model for the electrically induced IMT case, we reproduce the filamentary nature of electronically induced IMT, which elucidates a cascading avalanche effect triggered by the local electric field across nanoscale insulating and metallic domains. PMID:25632880

We performed high-pressure study for a Mott insulator BaFe2S3 , by measuring dc resistivity and ac susceptibility up to 15 GPa. We found that the antiferromagnetic insulating state at the ambient pressure is transformed into a metallic state at the critical pressure, Pc=10 GPa , and the superconductivity with the optimum Tc=24 K emerges above Pc. Furthermore, we found that the metal-insulator transition (Mott transition) boundary terminates at a critical point around 10 GPa and 75 K. The obtained pressure-temperature (P -T ) phase diagram is similar to those of the organic and fullerene compounds; namely, BaFe2S3 is the first inorganic superconductor in the vicinity of bandwidth control type Mott transition.

We propose a simple scheme to realize 1{yields}M economical phase-covariant quantum cloning machine (EPQCM) with superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) qubits. In our scheme, multi-SQUIDs are fixed into a microwave cavity by adiabatic passage for their manipulation. Based on this model, we can realize the EPQCM with high fidelity via adiabatic quantum computation.

A comprehensive study of the doping dependence of the phase diagram of FeSe-based superconductors is still required due to the lack of a clean and systematic means of doping control. Here, we report on the magneto-optical imaging, thermodynamic and transport properties, as well as in situ angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) studies of impurity scattering in stoichiometric FeSe single crystals. Co doping at the Fe site is found to decrease the superconducting transition temperature (Tc). The upper critical field and specific heat all indicate a possible multiband superconductivity with strong coupling in the Co-doped system. A remarkable feature in FeSe is that its temperature dependent resistivity exhibits a wide hump at high temperatures, a signature of a crossover from a semiconductinglike behavior to metallic behavior. A structural tetragonal-to-orthorhombic phase transition (Ts) (a consequence of the electronic nematicity) is suppressed by either physical or chemical pressures. Due to the reconstruction of the Fermi surface at Ts, specific heat anomalies at Ts present Δ Cp/Ts≈γn , being γn the Sommerfield coefficient at low temperature. This reflect an additional electronic instability in the FeSe1 -xSx system. ARPES data between 180 and 282 K indicates the existence of a chemical potential shift with increasing thermal excitations, resulting in a change of the Fermi-surface topology and exhibiting a semimetal behavior. We found that the temperature-induced Lifshitz transition is much higher than the temperature for the nematic order.

We investigate the buckling process observed in connection with the temperature-induced shrinking of an elastic toroid composed of hydrogel. Hydrogels are polymeric network media that become swollen when mixed with water, provided the temperature is low enough. As the temperature is increased beyond a certain point, such gels undergo a first-order de-swelling transition to a de-mixed state, in which the network segregates from the water, resulting in a shrunken phase. It is known that the rapid heating of swollen hydrogels beyond the de-swelling transition results in the formation of a shrunken-phase boundary region, or shell. This shell hinders the expulsion of fluid associated with the equilibration of the sample interior, and gives rise to a prolonged period of coexistence between shrunken and swollen domains in the interior of the sample. In contrast with the spherical case, toroidal samples have been observed to undergo a constrained phase separation that is accompanied by a global buckling (or ``Pringling'') deformation of the sample shape. We present a model of hydrogel toroid Pringling in which such deformations are driven by this phase separation process.

The discovery of the iron-based superconductors in 2008 not only provides another venue to understand the origin of high-Tc superconductivity but also a new playground to explore novel superconductors with higher superconducting transition temperature. The latest report of possible high temperature superconductivity in the single-layer FeSe films grown on SrTiO3 substrate is both surprising and interesting. In this talk, we report the electronic structure and phase diagram of the single-layer FeSe films by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Our high-resolution ARPES results show that it has a simple Fermi surface topology consisting only of electron pockets near the zone corner without indication of any Fermi surface around the zone center. In addition, our observation of large and nearly isotropic superconducting gap in this strictly two-dimensional system rules out existence of node in the superconducting gap. We also established a phase diagram in this single-layer FeSe films by an annealing procedure to tune the charge carrier concentration over a wide range. By optimizing the annealing process, we observed evidence of a record high Tc of ~ 65K in the single-layer FeSe films. The wide tunability of the system across different phases, and its high-Tc, make the single-layer FeSe film ideal not only to investigate the superconductivity physics and mechanism, but also to study novel quantum phenomena and for potential applications. Work done in collaboration with J. He, W. Zhang, L. Zhao, D. Liu, X. Liu, D. Mou, Y. Ou, Q. Wang, Z. Li, L. Wang, Y. Peng, Y. Liu, C. Chen, L. Yu, G. Liu, X. Dong, J. Zhang, C. Chen, Z. Xu, X. Chen, X. Ma, Q.-K. Xue, and X. J. Zhou in IOP, CAS, and Tsinghua Univ., Beijing

Inductive fault current limiters of magnetic shielding type can be described in terms of the excursion in the plane defined by flux linked with primary and line current, and this methodology has been previously applied to single-phase devices. Practical applications, however, require three-phase limiters, which, for the sake of compactness, may be built by three legged cores, instead of three single phase units. This has the advantage of using well established methods of power transformers industry, but the performance of the devices depends on the type of fault, e.g. phase to ground or phase to phase. For instance, in a three legged core, a phase to ground fault affects healthy phases, and these are the most frequent faults in distribution grids, where such systems are envisaged. The effects of asymmetric faults are analysed in this paper, by means of measured excursions in the linked flux-current plane.

Pressure dependence of the electronic and crystal structures of KxFe2−ySe2, which has pressure-induced two superconducting domes of SC I and SC II, was investigated by x-ray emission spectroscopy and diffraction. X-ray diffraction data show that compressibility along the c-axis changes around 12 GPa, where a new superconductingphase of SC II appears. This suggests a possible tetragonal to collapsed tetragonal phase transition. X-ray emission spectroscopy data also shows the change in the electronic structure around 12 GPa. These results can be explained by the scenario that the two SC domes under pressure originate from the change of Fermi surface topology. Our results here show the pronounced increase of the density of states near the Fermi surface under pressure with a structural phase transition, which can help address our fundamental understanding for the appearance of the SC II phase. PMID:27499373

Pressure dependence of the electronic and crystal structures of KxFe2-ySe2, which has pressure-induced two superconducting domes of SC I and SC II, was investigated by x-ray emission spectroscopy and diffraction. X-ray diffraction data show that compressibility along the c-axis changes around 12 GPa, where a new superconductingphase of SC II appears. This suggests a possible tetragonal to collapsed tetragonal phase transition. X-ray emission spectroscopy data also shows the change in the electronic structure around 12 GPa. These results can be explained by the scenario that the two SC domes under pressure originate from the change of Fermi surface topology. Our results here show the pronounced increase of the density of states near the Fermi surface under pressure with a structural phase transition, which can help address our fundamental understanding for the appearance of the SC II phase. PMID:27499373

Pressure-induced superconductivity was recently discovered in the binary helimagnet CrAs. We report the results of measurements of nuclear quadrupole resonance for CrAs under pressure. In the vicinity of the critical pressure P(c) between the helimagnetic (HM) and paramagnetic (PM) phases, a phase separation is observed. The large internal field remaining in the phase-separated HM state indicates that the HM phase disappears through a strong first-order transition. This indicates the absence of a quantum critical point in CrAs; however, the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T(1) reveals that substantial magnetic fluctuations are present in the PM state. The absence of a coherence effect in 1/T(1) in the superconducting state provides evidence that CrAs is the first Cr-based unconventional superconductor. PMID:25839303

Pressure dependence of the electronic and crystal structures of KxFe2‑ySe2, which has pressure-induced two superconducting domes of SC I and SC II, was investigated by x-ray emission spectroscopy and diffraction. X-ray diffraction data show that compressibility along the c-axis changes around 12 GPa, where a new superconductingphase of SC II appears. This suggests a possible tetragonal to collapsed tetragonal phase transition. X-ray emission spectroscopy data also shows the change in the electronic structure around 12 GPa. These results can be explained by the scenario that the two SC domes under pressure originate from the change of Fermi surface topology. Our results here show the pronounced increase of the density of states near the Fermi surface under pressure with a structural phase transition, which can help address our fundamental understanding for the appearance of the SC II phase.

We report resistivity, magnetization and 19F NMR results in a polycrystalline sample of SmFeAsO0.86F0.14. The resistivity and magnetization data show a sharp drop at 48 K indicating a superconducting transition. The nuclear spin-lattice rate (1/T1) and spin-spin relaxation rate (1/T2) clearly show the existence of a structural phase transition near 163 K in the sample, which also undergoes a superconducting transition. This finding creates interest in exploring whether this is unique for Sm based systems or is also present in other rare-earth based 1111 superconductors.

Electrical resistivity measurements performed under applied hydrostatic pressure and in magnetic fields have been used to probe the hidden order (HO) and superconducting (SC) states of URu{sub 2}Si{sub 2}, which have ambient-pressure transition temperatures T{sub 0} = 17.5 K and T{sub c} = 1.5 K, respectively. T{sub 0} increases with applied pressure and a distinct kink in its pressure dependence is observed at 15 kbar; this feature is associated with the onset of antiferromagnetism. The pressure dependence of the SC upper critical field has been measured with the external field aligned parallel to both crystalline axes. The SC phase is smoothly suppressed to a critical pressure of about 15 kbar and no qualitative change in the critical field curves is observed. The co-evolution of the HO and SC phases is discussed within the context of a model in which the two phases compete for Fermi surface fraction. (authors)

The phase transition, thermoelastic, lattice dynamic, and thermodynamic properties of the cubic metallic phase AlH{sub 3} were obtained within the density-function perturbation theory. The calculated elastic modulus and phonon dispersion curves under various pressures at 0 K indicate the cubic phase is both mechanically and dynamically stable above 73 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature T{sub c} was calculated using the Allen-Dynes modification of the McMillan formula based on BCS theory. The calculations show that T{sub c} for the cubic phase AlH{sub 3} is 8.5 K (μ{sup *}=0.1) at the onset of this phase (73 GPa), while decreases to 5.7 K at 80 GPa and almost disappears at 110 GPa, consisting with experimental phenomenon that there was no superconducting transition observed down to 4 K over a wide pressure range 110–164 GPa. It is found that the soft phonon mode for branch 1, namely, the lowest acoustic mode, plays a crucial role in elevating the total EPC parameter λ of cubic AlH{sub 3}. And the evolution of T{sub c} with pressure follows the corresponding change of this soft mode, i.e. this mode is responsible for the disappearance of T{sub c} in experiments. Meanwhile, the softening of this lowest acoustic mode originates from the electronic momentum transfer from M to R point. This phenomenon provides an important insight into why drastic changes in the diffraction pattern were observed in the pressure range of 63–73 GPa in Goncharenko's experiments. Specifically, once finite electronic temperature effects are included, we find that dynamical instabilities can be removed in the phonon dispersion for P≥63 GPa, rendering the metastability of this phase in the range of 63–73 GPa, and T{sub c} (15.4 K) becomes remarkably high under the lowest possible pressure (63 GPa) compared with that of under 73 GPa (8.5 K). Our calculations open the possibility that finite temperature may allow cubic AlH{sub 3} to be

We show that the van der Waals-like phase-separation instability of a driven granular gas at zero gravity, previously investigated in two-dimensional settings, persists in three dimensions. We consider a monodisperse granular gas driven by a thermal wall of a three-dimensional rectangular container at zero gravity. The basic steady state of this system, as described by granular hydrodynamic equations, involves a denser and colder layer of granulate located at the wall opposite to the driving wall. When the inelastic energy loss is sufficiently high, the driven granular gas exhibits, in some range of average densities, negative compressibility in the directions parallel to the driving wall. When the lateral dimensions of the container are sufficiently large, the negative compressibility causes spontaneous symmetry breaking of the basic steady state and a phase separation instability. Event-driven molecular dynamics simulations confirm and complement our theoretical predictions. PMID:17677252

We studied the electronic transport properties of the charge transfer salt β-(BDA-TTP)2I3 [BDA-TTP: 2,5-bis(1,3-dithian-2-ylidene)-1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene] by applying uniaxial strains along the three crystallographic axes, and obtained three corresponding temperature-pressure phase diagrams. Three phase diagrams were quite dependent on the direction of compression. Following the preceding paper by Kikuchi et al., we speculate that the insulating states are of 1/2-filled Mott insulators for the a- and b-axes compressions, and of 1/4-filled charge ordered states for the c-axis compression as well as hydrostatic pressure. The superconductingphase under uniaxial strain was realized with Tc = 5 K at 1.9 GPa along the a-axis and with Tc = 5.6 K at 1.75 GPa along the b-axis. Superconductivity was also reproduced with a Tc of 9.5 K at 1.0 GPa for the c-axis compressions in the range of 0.85 to 1.53 GPa as previously reported. We studied tentative measurement on upper critical fields, Bc2's of these superconductivities and found that the extrapolated values, Bc2(0)'s, exceeded Pauli-limit by about 2--3 times. However, at least in terms of Bc2, the difference in superconductivity associated with two different insulating states was not clear.

Recently, high-transition-temperature (high-T{sub c}) superconductivity was discovered in the iron pnictide RFeAsO{sub 1-x}F{sub x} (R, rare-earth metal) family of materials. We use neutron scattering to study the structural and magnetic phase transitions in CeFeAsO{sub 1-x}F{sub x} as the system is tuned from a semimetal to a high-T{sub c} superconductor through fluorine (F) doping, x. In the undoped state, CeFeAsO develops a structural lattice distortion followed by a collinear antiferromagnetic order with decreasing temperature. With increasing fluorine doping, the structural phase transition decreases gradually and vanishes within the superconductivity dome near x = 0.10, whereas the antiferromagnetic order is suppressed before the appearance of superconductivity for x > 0.06, resulting in an electronic phase diagram remarkably similar to that of the high-T{sub c} copper oxides. Comparison of the structural evolution of CeFeAsO{sub 1-x}F{sub x} with other Fe-based superconductors suggests that the structural perfection of the Fe-As tetrahedron is important for the high-T{sub c} superconductivity in these Fe pnictides.

It is argued that many synthetic metals, including high temperature superconductors are ``bad metals`` with such a poor conductivity that the usual mean-field theory of superconductivity breaks down because of anomalously large classical and quantum fluctuations of the phase of the superconducting order parameter. Some consequences for high temperature superconductors are described.

It is now experimentally well established that the superconducting (SC) phase of URu2Si2 with Tc =1.5K emerges from the hidden order (HO) phase with THO = 17.5K. Thus, it is of great interest to discern the different symmetries of both phases. In particular, recent theoretical proposals for time-reversal symmetry breaking (TRSB) order parameters of either phases pose the question of whether the HO one drives the SC one, or TRSB appears in the SC phase independently. In this talk we report high resolution polar Kerr effect (PKE) measurements as a function of temperature for several high-quality single crystals of URu2Si2. We find an onset of PKE below the superconducting transition that is consistent with a TRS-breaking order parameter. This effect appears to be independent of an additional, possibly extrinsic, PKE generated in the hidden order phase, and contains structure below Tc suggestive of additional physics within the superconducting state. Work supported by DOE.

It is shown that many synthetic metals, including high temperature superconductors are ``bad metals``, with such a poor conductivity that the usual meanfield theory of superconductivity breaks down because of anomalously large classical and quantum fluctuations of the phase of the superconducting order parameter. It is argued that the supression of a first order phase transition (phase separation) by the long-range Coulomb interaction leads to high temperature superconductivity accompanied by static or dynamical charge inhomogeneIty. Evidence in support of this picture for high temperature superconductors is described.

Between X-ray tubes and large-scale synchrotron sources, a large gap in performance exists with respect to the monochromaticity and brilliance of the X-ray beam. However, due to their size and cost, large-scale synchrotrons are not available for more routine applications in small and medium-sized academic or industrial laboratories. This gap could be closed by laser-driven compact synchrotron light sources (CLS), which use an infrared (IR) laser cavity in combination with a small electron storage ring. Hard X-rays are produced through the process of inverse Compton scattering upon the intersection of the electron bunch with the focused laser beam. The produced X-ray beam is intrinsically monochromatic and highly collimated. This makes a CLS well-suited for applications of more advanced––and more challenging––X-ray imaging approaches, such as X-ray multimodal tomography. Here we present, to our knowledge, the first results of a first successful demonstration experiment in which a monochromatic X-ray beam from a CLS was used for multimodal, i.e., phase-, dark-field, and attenuation-contrast, X-ray tomography. We show results from a fluid phantom with different liquids and a biomedical application example in the form of a multimodal CT scan of a small animal (mouse, ex vivo). The results highlight particularly that quantitative multimodal CT has become feasible with laser-driven CLS, and that the results outperform more conventional approaches. PMID:25902493

Between X-ray tubes and large-scale synchrotron sources, a large gap in performance exists with respect to the monochromaticity and brilliance of the X-ray beam. However, due to their size and cost, large-scale synchrotrons are not available for more routine applications in small and medium-sized academic or industrial laboratories. This gap could be closed by laser-driven compact synchrotron light sources (CLS), which use an infrared (IR) laser cavity in combination with a small electron storage ring. Hard X-rays are produced through the process of inverse Compton scattering upon the intersection of the electron bunch with the focused laser beam. The produced X-ray beam is intrinsically monochromatic and highly collimated. This makes a CLS well-suited for applications of more advanced--and more challenging--X-ray imaging approaches, such as X-ray multimodal tomography. Here we present, to our knowledge, the first results of a first successful demonstration experiment in which a monochromatic X-ray beam from a CLS was used for multimodal, i.e., phase-, dark-field, and attenuation-contrast, X-ray tomography. We show results from a fluid phantom with different liquids and a biomedical application example in the form of a multimodal CT scan of a small animal (mouse, ex vivo). The results highlight particularly that quantitative multimodal CT has become feasible with laser-driven CLS, and that the results outperform more conventional approaches. PMID:25902493

A key consideration in assessing impacts of climate change is the possibility of synergistic effects with other human-induced stressors. In the ocean realm, climate change and overfishing pose two of the greatest challenges to the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. In eastern Tasmania, temperate coastal waters are warming at approximately four times the global ocean warming average, representing the fastest rate of warming in the Southern Hemisphere. This has driven range extension of the ecologically important long-spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii), which has now commenced catastrophic overgrazing of productive Tasmanian kelp beds leading to loss of biodiversity and important rocky reef ecosystem services. Coincident with the overgrazing is heavy fishing of reef-based predators including the spiny lobster Jasus edwardsii. By conducting experiments inside and outside Marine Protected Areas we show that fishing, by removing large predatory lobsters, has reduced the resilience of kelp beds against the climate-driven threat of the sea urchin and thus increased risk of catastrophic shift to widespread sea urchin barrens. This shows that interactions between multiple human-induced stressors can exacerbate nonlinear responses of ecosystems to climate change and limit the adaptive capacity of these systems. Management actions focused on reducing the risk of catastrophic phase shift in ecosystems are particularly urgent in the face of ongoing warming and unprecedented levels of predator removal from the world's oceans. PMID:20018706

This paper describes the process used to generate lower limb kinematics during single limb stance phase of gait, using musculoskeletal modelling, muscle driven forward simulation and gradient based optimisation techniques (including design of experiment techniques). Initial inputs to the forward simulation process were the normalised quantified muscle activation patterns of 22 muscles, and the initial segmental configuration (both angles and angular velocity) derived from Winter (The biomechanics and motor control of human gait, 1987, University of Waterloo Press, pp. 1-72). Two distinct musculoskeletal models (one including 6 DOF, the other 7 DOF) were defined and a muscle driven forward simulation was implemented.A series of optimisation sequences then were executed to modify the muscle activation patterns and initial segmental configuration, until the system output of the forward simulation approximated the angle data reported by. The accuracy and effectiveness of the analysis sequence proposed and the model response obtained using two distinct musculoskeletal models were verified and analysed with respect to the kinesiology of normal walking. PMID:11955500

A key consideration in assessing impacts of climate change is the possibility of synergistic effects with other human-induced stressors. In the ocean realm, climate change and overfishing pose two of the greatest challenges to the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. In eastern Tasmania, temperate coastal waters are warming at approximately four times the global ocean warming average, representing the fastest rate of warming in the Southern Hemisphere. This has driven range extension of the ecologically important long-spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii), which has now commenced catastrophic overgrazing of productive Tasmanian kelp beds leading to loss of biodiversity and important rocky reef ecosystem services. Coincident with the overgrazing is heavy fishing of reef-based predators including the spiny lobster Jasus edwardsii. By conducting experiments inside and outside Marine Protected Areas we show that fishing, by removing large predatory lobsters, has reduced the resilience of kelp beds against the climate-driven threat of the sea urchin and thus increased risk of catastrophic shift to widespread sea urchin barrens. This shows that interactions between multiple human-induced stressors can exacerbate nonlinear responses of ecosystems to climate change and limit the adaptive capacity of these systems. Management actions focused on reducing the risk of catastrophic phase shift in ecosystems are particularly urgent in the face of ongoing warming and unprecedented levels of predator removal from the world's oceans. PMID:20018706

The asymptotic freedom of QCD suggests that at high density - where one forms a Fermi surface at very high momenta - weak coupling methods apply. These methods suggest that chiral symmetry is restored and that an instability toward color triplet condensation (color superconductivity) sets in. Here I attempt, using variational methods, to estimate these effects more precisely. Highlights include demonstration of a negative pressure in the uniform density chiral broken phase for any non-zero condensation, which we take as evidence for the philosophy of the MIT bag model; and demonstration that the color gap is substantial - several tens of MeV - even at modest densities. Since the superconductivity is in a pseudoscalar channel, parity is spontaneously broken.

Recently, a very rich phase diagram has been obtained for an iron-based superconductor Ca4Al2O6Fe2(As1-xPx)2. It has been revealed that nodeless (x˜0) and nodal (x=1) superconductivity are separated by an antiferromagnetic phase. Here we study the origin of this peculiar phase diagram using a five orbital model constructed from first-principles band calculation, and applying the fluctuation exchange approximation assuming spin-fluctuation-mediated pairing. At x=1, there are three hole Fermi surfaces, but the most inner one around the wave vector (0,0) has strong dX2-Y2 orbital character, unlike in LaFeAsO, where the most inner Fermi surface has dXZ/YZ character. Since the Fermi surfaces around (0,0), (π,0), and (π,π) all have dX2-Y2 orbital character, the repulsive pairing interaction mediated by the spin fluctuations gives rise to a frustration in momentum space, thereby degrading superconductivity despite the bond angle being close to the regular tetrahedron angle. As x decreases and the bond angle is reduced, the inner hole Fermi surface disappears, but the frustration effect still remains because the top of the band with dX2-Y2 character lies close to the Fermi level. On the other hand, the loss of the Fermi surface itself gives rise to a very good nesting of the Fermi surface because the number of electron and hole Fermi surfaces are now the same. The pairing interaction frustration and the good nesting combined favors antiferromagnetism over superconductivity. Finally for x close to 0, the band sinks far below the Fermi level, reducing the frustration effect, so that superconductivity is enhanced. There, the Fermi surface nesting is also lost to some extent, once again favoring superconductivity over antiferromagnetism. To see whether the present theoretical scenario is consistent with the actual nature of the competition between superconductivity and antiferromagnetism, we also perform hydrostatic pressure experiment for Ca4Al2O6Fe2(As1-xPx)2. In the

The Bose-Hubbard model (BHM) describes bosons hopping across sites and interacting on-site. Inspired by the success of BHM simulators with atoms in optical lattices, proposals for implementing the BHM with photons in coupled nonlinear cavities have recently emerged. Two coupled semiconductor microcavities constitute a model system where the hopping, interaction and decay of exciton polaritons--mixed light-matter quasiparticles--can be engineered in combination with site-selective coherent driving to implement the driven-dissipative two-site optical BHM. Here we explore the interplay of interference and nonlinearity in this system, in a regime where three distinct density profiles can be observed under identical driving conditions. We demonstrate how the phase acquired by polaritons hopping between cavities can be controlled through polariton-polariton interactions. Our results open new perspectives for synthesizing density-dependent gauge fields using polaritons in two-dimensional multicavity systems.

The Bose-Hubbard model (BHM) describes bosons hopping across sites and interacting on-site. Inspired by the success of BHM simulators with atoms in optical lattices, proposals for implementing the BHM with photons in coupled nonlinear cavities have recently emerged. Two coupled semiconductor microcavities constitute a model system where the hopping, interaction and decay of exciton polaritons-mixed light-matter quasiparticles-can be engineered in combination with site-selective coherent driving to implement the driven-dissipative two-site optical BHM. Here we explore the interplay of interference and nonlinearity in this system, in a regime where three distinct density profiles can be observed under identical driving conditions. We demonstrate how the phase acquired by polaritons hopping between cavities can be controlled through polariton-polariton interactions. Our results open new perspectives for synthesizing density-dependent gauge fields using polaritons in two-dimensional multicavity systems. PMID:27307038

The Bose-Hubbard model (BHM) describes bosons hopping across sites and interacting on-site. Inspired by the success of BHM simulators with atoms in optical lattices, proposals for implementing the BHM with photons in coupled nonlinear cavities have recently emerged. Two coupled semiconductor microcavities constitute a model system where the hopping, interaction and decay of exciton polaritons—mixed light-matter quasiparticles—can be engineered in combination with site-selective coherent driving to implement the driven-dissipative two-site optical BHM. Here we explore the interplay of interference and nonlinearity in this system, in a regime where three distinct density profiles can be observed under identical driving conditions. We demonstrate how the phase acquired by polaritons hopping between cavities can be controlled through polariton-polariton interactions. Our results open new perspectives for synthesizing density-dependent gauge fields using polaritons in two-dimensional multicavity systems. PMID:27307038

The accurate calculation of decimal fractions is still a challenge for the binary-coded computations that rely on von Neumann paradigm. Here, we report a kind of memristive abacus based on synaptic Ag-Ge-Se device, in which the memristive long-term potentiation and depression are caused by a chemically drivenphase transformation. The growth and the rupture of conductive Ag2Se dendrites are confirmed via in situ transmission electron microscopy. By detecting the change in memristive synaptic weight, the quantity of input signals applied onto the device can be “counted”. This makes it possible to achieve the functions of abacus that is basically a counting frame. We demonstrate through experimental studies that this kind of memristive abacus can calculate decimal fractions in the light of the abacus algorithms. This approach opens up a new route to do decimal arithmetic in memristive devices without encoding binary-coded decimal. PMID:23390580

State-of-the-art miniature expansion turbines and centrifugal compressors used in spaceborne sensor cryocoolers employ self-acting gas bearings to achieve high reliability and long operating life. Because these bearings must run at room temperature to achieve adequate stiffness and stability, they result in an avoidable source of heat leak to the process gas, thereby lowering overall cycle efficiency and increasing the system launch weight. This report shows that the gas bearings can be replaced by Meissner-effect bearings fabricated from high-temperature superconducting materials. Analyses are presented to predict Meissner bearing performance, and a preliminary design of a miniature expansion incorporating Meissner-bearings is conceptualized. Because these bearings operate at a cryogenic temperatures, a substantial reduction in heat leak to the process gas can be achieved. For a typical cryocooler providing 1 watt of cooling at 10 K, a 40% reduction in input-cycle power can be achieved by replacing the self-acting gas bearings by Meissner bearings in the cold expansion turbine.

A new class of X-band phase shifters using the distributed Josephson inductance (DJI) effect were delivered to NRL for the HTS Space Experiment project. Phase shifts were observed above 77 K, and large phase shifts were observed at 65 K and below. This narrow-band device was developed as a first step to a broadband device. A total of 40 HTS SQUIDs were successfully integrated into a monolithic circuit. Measurement of the temperature dependance of the Q of a resonator in June 1990 and in February 1991 showed no significant change due to aging. A total of seven X-band phase shifters were fabricated, and five were delivered to Naval Research Laboratory. The HTS phase shifter consists of a low loss YBa2Cu3O7 microstrip resonator with 40 SQUID devices monolithically imbedded into the transmission line. This narrow-band device was developed as a first step to a broadband device.

A new class of X-band phase shifters using the distributed Josephson inductance (DJI) effect were delivered to NRL for the HTS Space Experiment project. Phase shifts were observed above 77 K, and large phase shifts were observed at 65 K and below. This narrow-band device was developed as a first step to a broadband device. A total of 40 HTS SQUIDs were successfully integrated into a monolithic circuit. Measurement of the temperature dependence of the Q of a resonator in June 1990 and in February 1991 showed no significant change due to aging. A total of seven X-band phase shifters were fabricated, and five were delivered to Naval Research Laboratory. The HTS phase shifter consists of a low loss YBa2Cu3O7 microstrip resonator with 40 SQUID devices monolithically imbedded into the transmission line. This narrow-band device was developed as a first step to a broadband device.

The anomalous electric resistivity of collisionless plasmas is an important issue in the physics of hot plasmas, e.g., in the context of auroral particle acceleration and of reconnection in the solar corona. The linear stability theory of isothermal current driven space plasmas predicts an ion-acoustic instability if the relative drift velocity of the current carrying particles exceeds a certain threshold, which, generally, depends on the plasma parameters. The spectrum of waves, excited by a marginal instability, is very narrow. Hence, the wave power at saturation and the corresponding electric resistivity due to wave-particle interaction cannot be obtained by means of a quasilinear, weak turbulence approach and the nonlinear single mode theory provides too small saturation amplitudes. To solve the nonlinear problem a newly developed unsplit conservative Eulerian Vlasov code is applied to simulate a strongly magnetized current driven plasma, which can be considered in 1D1V (one spatial, one velocity space direction). Instead of periodic boundary conditions, usually used as they are simpler to treat, open boundaries are implemented which allow to maintain a constant current flow. Simulated is a typical almost isothermal (T{sub e}=2T{sub i}) hot ({kappa}T{sub i}=1 keV) space plasma for the real mass ratio m{sub i}/m{sub e}=1836. The initial spontaneous instability is followed by a three-stage nonlinear evolution: First electron trapping leads to the formation of electron phase space holes. Due to a steepening of the leading edges of the potential wells the electron phase space holes gradually become asymmetric, they grow in size and deepen. The phase space holes accelerate until they move much faster than the initial ion-acoustic waves. The interaction of the current carriers with the asymmetric potential wells and causes a nonvanishing net momentum transfer between the particles and the self-generated electric field. After a few ion plasma periods ion trapping

High values of superconducting transition temperature in oxide superconductors are hypothetically attributed to the d-pairing of charge carriers in the Bose condensate. The order parameter of the superconducting state forms the basis for the same representation of the crystallographic symmetry group of the parent phase which is used to transform those components of the order parameter, which describe the spontaneous deformation of the parent phase and form a real crystal. The layering of the crystal is assumed to be an unessential factor, although it may govern the type of pairing in YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}}. This hypothesis is supported by the model calculations which qualitatively agree with the experimental data on the temperatures of phase transitions in YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}}-based solid solutions. 31 refs., 3 figs.

The phase diagram of doped fullerides like Cs3C60 as a function of the spacing between fullerene molecules is characterized by a first-order transition between a Mott insulator and an s-wave superconductor with a dome-shaped behavior of the critical temperature. By means of an ab-initio modeling of the bandstructure, the electron-phonon interaction and the interaction parameter and a Dynamical Mean-Field Theory solution, we reproduce the phase diagram and demonstrate that phonon superconductivity benefits from strong correlations confirming earlier model predictions. The role of correlations is manifest also in infrared measurements carried out by L. Baldassarre. The superconductingphase shares many similarities with ''exotic'' superconductors with electronic pairing, suggesting that the anomalies in the ''normal'' state, rather than the pairing glue, can be the real common element unifying a wide family of strongly correlated superconductors including cuprates and iron superconductors

We perform measurements of the switching current distributions of three w ≈ 120 nm wide, 4 nm thick NbN superconducting strips which are used for single-photon detectors. These strips are much wider than the diameter of the vortex cores, so they are classified as quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D). We discover evidence of macroscopic quantum tunneling by observing the saturation of the standard deviation of the switching distributions at temperatures around 2 K. We analyze our results using the Kurkijärvi-Garg model and find that the escape temperature also saturates at low temperatures, confirming that at sufficiently low temperatures, macroscopic quantum tunneling is possible in quasi-2D strips and can contribute to dark counts observed in single photon detectors. At the highest temperatures the system enters a multiple phase-slip regime. In this range single phase-slips are unable to produce dark counts and the fluctuations in the switching current are reduced. PMID:25988591

We perform measurements of the switching current distributions of three w ≈ 120 nm wide, 4 nm thick NbN superconducting strips which are used for single-photon detectors. These strips are much wider than the diameter of the vortex cores, so they are classified as quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D). We discover evidence of macroscopic quantum tunneling by observing the saturation of the standard deviation of the switching distributions at temperatures around 2 K. We analyze our results using the Kurkijärvi-Garg model and find that the escape temperature also saturates at low temperatures, confirming that at sufficiently low temperatures, macroscopic quantum tunneling is possible in quasi-2D strips and can contribute to dark counts observed in single photon detectors. At the highest temperatures the system enters a multiple phase-slip regime. In this range single phase-slips are unable to produce dark counts and the fluctuations in the switching current are reduced. PMID:25988591

Strong perpendicular anisotropy systems consisting of Co/Pt multilayer stacks that are antiferromagnetically coupled via thin Ru or NiO layers have been used as model systems to study the competition between local interlayer exchange and long-range dipolar interactions [1,2]. Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) studies of such systems reveal complex magnetic configurations with a mix of antiferromagnetic (AF) and ferromagnetic (FM) phases. However, MFM allows detecting surface stray fields only and can interact strongly with the magnetic structure of the sample, thus altering the original domain configuration of interest [3,4]. In the current study they combine magnetometry and state-of-the-art soft X-ray transmission microscopy (MXTM) to investigate the external field driven FM phase evolution originating from the domain boundaries in such antiferromagnetically coupled perpendicular anisotropy films. MXTM allows directly imaging the perpendicular component of the magnetization in an external field at sub 100 nm spatial resolution without disturbing the magnetic state of the sample [5,6]. Here they compare the domain evolution for two similar [Co(4{angstrom})/Pt(7{angstrom})]x-1/{l_brace}Co(4{angstrom})/Ru(9{angstrom})/[Co(4{angstrom})/Pt(7{angstrom})]x-1{r_brace}16 samples with slightly different Co/Pt stack thickness, i.e. slightly different strength of internal dipolar fields. After demagnetization they obtain AF domains with either sharp AF domain walls for the thinner multilayer stacks or 'tiger-tail' domain walls (one dimensional FM phase) for the thicker stacks. When increasing the external field strength the sharp domain walls in the tinner stack sample transform into the one-dimensional FM phase, which then serves as nucleation site for further FM stripe domains that spread out into all directions to drive the system towards saturation. Energy calculations reveal the subtle difference between the two samples and help to understand the observed transition, when

Phase coherence and vortex order in a Josephson-junction array at irrational frustration are studied by extensive Monte Carlo simulations using the parallel-tempering method. A scaling analysis of the correlation length of phase variables in the full equilibrated system shows that the critical temperature vanishes with a power-law divergent correlation length and critical exponent nuph, in agreement with recent results from resistivity scaling analysis. A similar scaling analysis for vortex variables reveals a different critical exponent nuv, suggesting that there are two distinct correlation lengths associated with a decoupled zero-temperature phase transition. PMID:18764218

The phase diagram of a three-flavor Polyakov-loop Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model is analyzed for symmetric matter with a parametrization consistent with the 2 M⊙mass constraint from the pulsars PSR J1614-2230 and PSR J0348+0432. A coexistence of partial chiral symmetry restoration, diquark condensation (2SC phase) and the hadronic (confined) phase is conjectured that entails the existence of a quadruple point and is accessible by trajectories of constant entropy per baryon for heavy-ion collisions in the NICA/FAIR energy range.

We compare the superconductingphase-diagram under high magnetic fields (up to H=45 T) of Fe1+ySe0.4Te0.6 single crystals originally grown by the Bridgman-Stockbarger (BRST) technique, which were annealed to display narrow superconducting transitions and the optimal transition temperature Tc≳14 K, with the diagram for samples of similar stoichiometry grown by the traveling-solvent floating-zone technique as well as with the phase diagram reported for crystals grown by a self-flux method. We find that the so-annealed samples tend to display higher ratios Hc2/Tc, particularly for fields applied along the interplanar direction, where the upper critical field Hc2(T) exhibits a pronounced concave down curvature followed by saturation at lower temperatures T. This last observation is consistent with previous studies indicating that this system is Pauli limited. An analysis of our Hc2(T) data using a multiband theory suggests the emergence of the Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchnikov state at low temperatures. A detailed structural x-ray analysis, reveals no impurity phases but an appreciable degree of mosaicity in as-grown BRST single crystals that remains unaffected by the annealing process. Energy-dispersive x-ray analysis showed that the annealed samples have a more homogeneous stoichiometric distribution of both Fe and Se with virtually the same content of interstitial Fe as the nonannealed ones. Thus we conclude that the excess of Fe, in contrast to structural disorder, contributes to the decrease of the superconducting upper-critical fields of this series. Finally, a scaling analysis of the fluctuation conductivity in the superconducting critical regime, suggests that the superconducting fluctuations have a two-dimensional character in this system.

The kinetics of fluctuations arising from vortex pairs in a superconductor at the phase transition from the paraphase to the ordered state is studied. It is shown by numerical simulations that these pairs are generated by typical configurations of the two-component order parameter due to its interaction with a (gauge) electromagnetic field. The role of these excitations in the first order phase transition is discussed.

Highly dense structurally disordered nanocrystalline bulk PbMo6S8 samples were fabricated by mechanical milling (MM) and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) at a pressure of 2000 bar and temperature of 800 °C for 8 h. In spite of the lower superconducting transition temperature (T0.95ρNC=12.3 K), nanocrystalline bulk PbMo6S8 samples were found to have significantly higher resistivity [ρN(16 K)=680 μΩ cm] and upper critical field [BM=0C2(0)=110 T] than conventional samples [T0.95ρNC=15.1 K, ρN(16 K)=80 μΩ cm, and BM=0C2(0)=45 T, respectively; Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 027002 (2003)]. The microstructural evolution during MM and HIP and the critical current density (JC) are presented in this paper. JC of the nanocrystalline bulk samples increased by a factor of more than 3 for high magnetic fields up to 12 T compared to the conventional sample. The scaling analysis is consistent with a grain-boundary pinning mechanism where FP≈{[BJC=0C2(T)]n/21κmμ0d*}bp(1-b)q where n˜2.35, m˜2, p˜1/2, q˜2, κ is the Ginzburg-Landau constant (calculated from reversible magnetization measurements), and d* is the grain size (derived from x-ray diffraction analysis). Despite the pinning framework, the underlying science that determines JC challenges the standard flux pinning paradigm that separates intrinsic and extrinsic properties, since the disorder and microstructure of these nanocrystalline materials are on a sufficiently short length scale as to increase both the density of (extrinsic) pinning sites and the (intrinsic) upper critical field.

It is expected that the interplay between nontrivial band topology and strong electron correlation will lead to very rich physics. Thus a controlled study of the competition between topology and correlation is of great interest. Here, employing large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we provide a concrete example of the Kane-Mele-Hubbard model on an AA-stacking bilayer honeycomb lattice with interlayer antiferromagnetic interaction. Our simulation identified several different phases: a quantum spin Hall insulator (QSH), an x y -plane antiferromagnetic Mott insulator, and an interlayer dimer-singlet insulator. Most importantly, a bona fide topological phase transition between the QSH and the dimer-singlet insulators, purely driven by the interlayer antiferromagnetic interaction, is found. At the transition, the spin and charge gap of the system close while the single-particle excitations remain gapped, which means that this transition has no mean-field analog and it can be viewed as a transition between bosonic symmetry-protected topological (SPT) states. At one special point, this transition is described by a (2 +1 )d O (4 ) nonlinear sigma model with exact S O (4 ) symmetry and a topological term at exactly Θ =π . The relevance of this work towards more general interacting SPT states is discussed.

It is expected the interplay between non-trivial band topology and strong electron correlation will lead to very rich physics. Thus a controlled study of the competition between topology and correlation is of great interest. Here, employing large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we provide a concrete example of the Kane-Mele-Hubbard model on an AA stacking bilayer honeycomb lattice with inter-layer antiferromagnetic interaction. Our simulation identified several different phases: a quantum spin-Hall insulator (QSH), a xy-plane antiferromagnetic Mott insulator (xy-AFM) and an inter-layer dimer-singlet insulator (dimer-singlet). Most importantly, a bona fide topological phase transition between the QSH and the dimer-singlet insulators, purely driven by the inter-layer antiferromagnetic interaction is found. At the transition, the spin and charge gap of the system close while the single-particle excitations remain gapped, which means that this transition has no mean field analogue and it can be viewed as a transition between bosonic SPT states. At one special point, this transition is described by a (2+1)d O(4) nonlinear sigma model with exact SO(4) symmetry, and a topological term at theta=p. Relevance of this work towards more general interacting SPT states is discussed.

Natural and constructed wetlands have gained attention as potential tools for remediation of shallow sediments and groundwater contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Wetland macrophytes are known to enhance rates of contaminant removal via volatilization, but the magnitude of different volatilization mechanisms, and the relationship between volatilization rates and contaminant physiochemical properties, remain poorly understood. Greenhouse mesocosm experiments using the volatile tracer sulfur hexafluoride were conducted to determine the relative magnitudes of gas-phase and transpiration-driven volatilization mechanisms. A numerical model for vegetation-mediated volatilization was developed, calibrated with tracer measurements, and used to predict plant-mediated volatilization of common VOCs as well as quantify the contribution of different volatilization pathways. Model simulations agree with conclusions from previous work that transpiration is the main driver for volatilization of VOCs, but also demonstrate that vapor-phase transport in wetland plants is significant, and can represent up to 50% of the total flux for compounds with greater volatility like vinyl chloride. PMID:22509995

Experiments probing the competition between superconductivity and disorder in two-dimensional (2D) thin-film systems have provided fascinating glimpses into the physics of superconductor-insulator (S-I) quantum phase transitions (QPTs). This talk will address the use of externally applied magnetic fields to tune through the S-I transition of amorphous composite indium oxide (α-InOx) thin films prepared at different stages of disorder. Air-stable α-InOx films are particularly advantageous for these studies: the disorder parameter as measured by the sheet resistance can be reproducibly controlled during deposition and the films are uniformly homogeneous out to macroscopic length scales. Temperature-dependent resistance and current-voltage measurements confirm the power-law decay of the order-parameter correlation function appropriate to a Kosterlitz-Thouless description of phase transitions in 2D systems. Accordingly, the superconductingphase transition temperature Tc is related to the unbinding of vortex-antivortex pairs either by temperature and/or disorder. The application of magnetic fields unveils fundamentally different physics in which, rather than a vortex unbinding transition, a field-tuned QPT emerges with the signature of a disorder-dependent critical field Bc that identifies the delocalization and Bose condensation of field-induced vortices. The concomitant pronounced divergence in resistance, which becomes increasing sharp as the temperature is lowered, marks the boundary between a superconductor harboring both Bose condensed Cooper pairs and localized vortices and an insulator harboring both Bose condensed vortices and localized Cooper pairs. The data for this putative QPT are well described by finite temperature scaling theory with critical exponent values accurately determined. At higher fields there is a second critical field where the transverse resistance appears to diverge, signaling the unbinding of pairs with the superconducting energy gap

In the high-temperature (T(c)) cuprate superconductors, a growing body of evidence suggests that the pseudogap phase, existing below the pseudogap temperature T*, is characterized by some broken electronic symmetries distinct from those associated with superconductivity. In particular, recent scattering experiments have suggested that charge ordering competes with superconductivity. However, no direct link of an interplay between the two phases has been identified from the important low-energy excitations. Here, we report an antagonistic singularity at T(c) in the spectral weight of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+δ) as compelling evidence for phase competition, which persists up to a high hole concentration p ~ 0.22. Comparison with theoretical calculations confirms that the singularity is a signature of competition between the order parameters for the pseudogap and superconductivity. The observation of the spectroscopic singularity at finite temperatures over a wide doping range provides new insights into the nature of the competitive interplay between the two orders and the complex phase diagram near the pseudogap critical point. PMID:25362356

We report optimization of the synthesis parameters viz. heating temperature (TH), and hold time (thold) for vacuum-annealed (10-5 Torr) and LN2 (liquid nitrogen) quenched MgB2 compound. These are single-phase compounds crystallizing in the hexagonal structure (space group P6/mmm) at room temperature. Our XRD results indicated that for phase-pure MgB2, the TH for 10-5 Torr annealed and LN2-quenched samples is 750°C. The right stoichiometry i.e., MgB2 of the compound corresponding to 10-5 Torr and TH of 750°C is found for the hold time (thold) of 2.30 hours. With varying thold from 1-4 hours at fixed TH (750°C) and vacuum (10-5 Torr), the c-lattice parameter decreases first and later increases with thold (hours) before a near saturation, while the a-lattice parameter first increases and later decreases beyond a thold of 2.30 hours. The c/a ratio versus thold plot showed an inverted bell-shaped curve, touching the lowest value of 1.141, which is the reported value for perfect stoichiometry of MgB2. The optimized stoichimetric MgB2 compound exhibited superconductivity at 39.2 K with a transition width of 0.6 K. In conclusion, the synthesis parameters for phase pure stoichimetric vacuum-annealed MgB2 compound are optimized and are compared with widely-reported Ta tube encapsulated samples.

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism for phenotypic diversification in all forms of life. We previously described remarkable cell-to-cell heterogeneity in epigenetic pattern within a clonal population of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a leading human pathogen. We here report that the epigenetic diversity is caused by extensive DNA inversions among hsdSA, hsdSB, and hsdSC, three methyltransferase hsdS genes in the Spn556II type-I restriction modification (R-M) locus. Because hsdSA encodes the sequence recognition subunit of this type-I R-M DNA methyltransferase, these site-specific recombinations generate pneumococcal cells with variable HsdSA alleles and thereby diverse genome methylation patterns. Most importantly, the DNA methylation pattern specified by the HsdSA1 allele leads to the formation of opaque colonies, whereas the pneumococci lacking HsdSA1 produce transparent colonies. Furthermore, this HsdSA1-dependent phase variation requires intact DNA methylase activity encoded by hsdM in the Spn556II (renamed colony opacity determinant or cod) locus. Thus, the DNA inversion-driven ON/OFF switch of the hsdSA1 allele in the cod locus and resulting epigenetic switch dictate the phase variation between the opaque and transparent phenotypes. Phase variation has been well documented for its importance in pneumococcal carriage and invasive infection, but its molecular basis remains unclear. Our work has discovered a novel epigenetic cause for this significant pathobiology phenomenon in S. pneumoniae. Lastly, our findings broadly represents a significant advancement in our understanding of bacterial R-M systems and their potential in shaping epigenetic and phenotypic diversity of the prokaryotic organisms because similar site-specific recombination systems widely exist in many archaeal and bacterial species. PMID:27427949

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism for phenotypic diversification in all forms of life. We previously described remarkable cell-to-cell heterogeneity in epigenetic pattern within a clonal population of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a leading human pathogen. We here report that the epigenetic diversity is caused by extensive DNA inversions among hsdSA, hsdSB, and hsdSC, three methyltransferase hsdS genes in the Spn556II type-I restriction modification (R-M) locus. Because hsdSA encodes the sequence recognition subunit of this type-I R-M DNA methyltransferase, these site-specific recombinations generate pneumococcal cells with variable HsdSA alleles and thereby diverse genome methylation patterns. Most importantly, the DNA methylation pattern specified by the HsdSA1 allele leads to the formation of opaque colonies, whereas the pneumococci lacking HsdSA1 produce transparent colonies. Furthermore, this HsdSA1-dependent phase variation requires intact DNA methylase activity encoded by hsdM in the Spn556II (renamed colony opacity determinant or cod) locus. Thus, the DNA inversion-driven ON/OFF switch of the hsdSA1 allele in the cod locus and resulting epigenetic switch dictate the phase variation between the opaque and transparent phenotypes. Phase variation has been well documented for its importance in pneumococcal carriage and invasive infection, but its molecular basis remains unclear. Our work has discovered a novel epigenetic cause for this significant pathobiology phenomenon in S. pneumoniae. Lastly, our findings broadly represents a significant advancement in our understanding of bacterial R-M systems and their potential in shaping epigenetic and phenotypic diversity of the prokaryotic organisms because similar site-specific recombination systems widely exist in many archaeal and bacterial species. PMID:27427949

The large superconducting detector magnets used for high energy physics experiments are virtually all indirectly cooled. In general, these detector magnets are not cryogenically stabilized. Therefore, there are a number of choices for cooling large indirectly cooled detector magnets. These choices include; 1) forced two-phase helium cooling driven by the helium refrigerator J-T circuit, 2) forced two-phase helium cooling driven by a helium pump, and 3) a peculation gravity feed cooling system which uses liquid helium from a large storage dewar. The choices for the cooling of a large detector magnet are illustrated by applying these concepts to a 4.2 meter diameter 0.5 tesla thin superconducting solenoid for an experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC).

AC losses in two, one-meter-long lengths of HTS prototype multi-strand conductors (PMC`s) are measured with a temperature-difference calorimeter. Both single-phase and three-phase losses are examined with ac currents up to 1,000 A rms. The calorimeter, designed specifically for these measurements, has a precision of 1 mW. PMC {number_sign}1 has two helically-wound, non-insulated layers of HTS tape (19 tapes per layer), each layer wrapped with opposite pitch. PMC {number_sign}2 is identical except for insulation between the layers. The measured ac losses show no significant effect of interlayer insulation and depend on about the third power of the current--a result in agreement with the Bean-Norris model adapted to the double-helix configuration. The three-phase losses are a factor of two higher than those exhibited by a single isolated conductor, indicating a significant interaction between phases.

Light-drivenphase transition in liquid crystals is a fascinating endeavour from both scientific and technological points of view. Here we demonstrate the proof-of-principle that the photothermal effect of organo-soluble plasmonic gold nanorods can introduce the phase transition of thermotropic liquid crystals upon near infrared laser irradiation. Interestingly, the reverse process occurs when the laser is switched off. PMID:25989830

This report summarizes the work done by Old Dominion University, in collaboration with the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility toward the development of high-velocity superconducting spoke cavities.

Bare bulk tube superconducting current leads (CLs) of (Bi, Pb)2 Sr2 Ca2 Cu3 O10+x: 10 wt% Ag (Length = 410 mm, outer diameter = 45 mm, and inner diameter = 42 mm) have been found to show a degradation in the normal state affecting the superconducting properties due to ageing of the material. These reference samples (named as RF) have been studied over a period of five and ten years. A decomposition of the Bi-2223 phase has been observed after testing several times during the period affecting normal state and superconducting properties considerably. An attempt has been made in order to obtain reusable product using two recycling methods. In one of the methods, these degraded samples were re-sintered (named as RS) and in the second one, they were reprocessed (named as RP). Those is, in the second method, the steps of crushing, mixing, calcining, cold isostatically pressing into tubes, making silver current contacts at both end portions of this tube and finally of sintering were followed to make reprocessed bare bulk tube current leads. Both these RS and RP samples were sintered under identical conditions as those of the conditions used for the RF samples. Comparative analyses of the two recycling (RS and RP) methods with respect to normal state and superconducting state properties are also presented.

A microscopic analysis of the superconducting quantum critical point realized via a pair-breaking quantum phase transition is presented. Finite-temperature crossovers are derived for the electrical conductivity, which is a key probe of superconducting fluctuations. By using the diagrammatic formalism for disordered systems, we are able to incorporate the interplay between fluctuating Cooper pairs and electrons, that is outside the scope of a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau or effective bosonic action formalism. It is essential to go beyond the standard approximation in order to capture the zero-temperature correction which results purely from the (dynamic) quantum fluctuations and dictates the behavior of the conductivity in an entire low-temperature quantum regime. All dynamic contributions are of the same order and conspire to add up to a negative total, thereby inhibiting the conductivity as a result of superconducting fluctuations. On the contrary, the classical and the intermediate regimes are dominated by the positive bosonic channel. Our theory is applicable in one, two, and three dimensions and is relevant for experiments on superconducting nanowires, doubly connected cylinders, thin films, and bulk in the presence of magnetic impurities, magnetic field, or other pair breakers. A window of nonmonotonic behavior is predicted to exist as either the temperature or the pair-breaking parameter is swept.

Single crystals with the starting composition of K0.8Fe2Se2 have been thermally treated in three different ways: slow furnace cooling (SFC) from 1020 °C, retreated for 2 hours at 250 °C (S250) and 350 °C (S350:) and followed by quenching. The DC magnetization measurements on them exhibit very different behavior: the SFC samples show a tiny diamagnetic signal, while the sample S350 shows a quite large Meissner shielding volume with the S250 in the middle. The resistive measurements on the sample S350 show zero resistance below 31 K with a sharp transition; while those from the sample SFC or S250 show much larger residual resistance together with a much wider transition. By using the SEM, we have successfully identified that, in SFC, the superconducting areas have relatively larger sizes (about one micrometer) and are widely separated; the superconducting area change into many thin but well connected networks in the sample S350, which construct a 3D spider-web. This explains both the magnetic shielding and the resistive transitions in the three samples. In addition, the superconducting area has a composition of about K0.64Fe1.8Se2. We suggest that the thermodynamically stable phase for the superconducting state has probably one vacancy in every 10 Fe-sites.

During G1-phase of the cell cycle, normal cells respond first to growth factors that indicate that it is appropriate to divide and then later in G1 to the presence of nutrients that indicate sufficient raw material to generate two daughter cells. Dividing cells rely on the "conditionally essential" amino acid glutamine (Q) as an anaplerotic carbon source for TCA cycle intermediates and as a nitrogen source for nucleotide biosynthesis. We previously reported that while non-transformed cells arrest in the latter portion of G1 upon Q deprivation, mutant KRas-driven cancer cells bypass the G1 checkpoint, and instead, arrest in S-phase. In this study, we report that the arrest of KRas-driven cancer cells in S-phase upon Q deprivation is due to the lack of deoxynucleotides needed for DNA synthesis. The lack of deoxynucleotides causes replicative stress leading to activation of the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR)-mediated DNA damage pathway, which arrests cells in S-phase. The key metabolite generated from Q utilization was aspartate, which is generated from a transaminase reaction whereby Q-derived glutamate is converted to α-ketoglutarate with the concomitant conversion of oxaloacetate to aspartate. Aspartate is a critical metabolite for both purine and pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis. This study identifies the molecular basis for the S-phase arrest caused by Q deprivation in KRas-driven cancer cells that arrest in S-phase in response to Q deprivation. Given that arresting cells in S-phase sensitizes cells to apoptotic insult, this study suggests novel therapeutic approaches to KRas-driven cancers. PMID:26921316

The fourth order linear differential equation is obtained for the probability density considering the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian (the case of quasistationary states - complexity of energy). Third order nonlinear differential equation for the square of the modulus of the order parameter and for the phase is obtained by making use of Ginzburg-Landau equations. Three integrals of 'motion' are found in the absence of the external magnetic field and two integrals are found in the presence of the external magnetic field. The analysis of these integrals is conducted. New analytical solutions are obtained.

The authors have solved the generalized time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) equations of Kramer and Watts-Tobin numerically. The solutions are used to predict the relaxation behavior of a microstrip biased below its dc critical current and excited into the resistive state by the application of a supercritical current pulse of a fixed duration. They have studied the relaxation behavior of the gap parameter and voltage along the microstrip as a function of the current pulse amplitude and bias magnitude. The relaxation is found to occur through a succession of phase-slip oscillations. The relaxation behavior is determined by the initial phase-slip state created by the current pulse. The maximum resistance attained increases rapidly, then saturates at a value less than the normal state resistance. The numerical solutions exhibit a region in which a relaxation time anomaly occurs with respect to the current pulse amplitude. In this region, the more highly excited states were found to relax faster. These features of the resistive relaxation behavior are found to be in qualitative agreement with their previous experimental measurements.

We investigate the nonequilibrium dynamics of a driven-dissipative spin ensemble with competing power-law interactions. We demonstrate that dynamical phase transitions as well as bistabilities can emerge for asymptotic van der Waals interactions, but critically rely on the presence of a slower decaying potential core. Upon introducing random particle motion, we show that a finite gas temperature can drive a phase transition with regards to the spin degree of freedom and eventually leads to mean-field behavior in the high-temperature limit. Our work reconciles contrasting observations of recent experiments with Rydberg atoms in the cold-gas and hot-vapor domain, and introduces an efficient theoretical framework in the latter regime.

The pressure-dependent diffraction response of the superconductingphase-separated Cs0.72Fe1.57Se2(Tc = 28.5 K) has been studied at room temperature using synchrotron radiation up to the pressure of 19 GPa. The main and secondary phases of Cs0.72Fe1.57Se2 have been observed in the whole pressure range. The main ordered phase has been found to undergo an order-disorder transition in the Fe sublattice at P = 11 GPa with the corresponding kinetics on the order of hours. Contrary to the analogous temperature-induced transition, the secondary phase has not been suppressed suggesting that its stability pressure range is higher than 19 GPa or the corresponding transformation kinetics is too slow at room temperature. Together with the previously reported pressure-dependent resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements, this work indicates that superconductivity in the AxFe2-ySe2 (A: alkali metals) phases could be related to the Fe-vacancy ordering in the main phase.

The stress dependence of thermally driven polarization change is reported for a ferroelectric rhombohedral to ferroelectric orthorhombic phase transformation in [011] cut and poled Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PIN-PMN-PT). A jump in polarization and strain is associated with a phase transformation of the ferroelectric material. The phase transformation temperature can be tuned, over a broad temperature range, through the application of bias stress. This phenomenon has applications in the field of energy harvesting and thermal sensing.

We consider layered heterojunctions of s-wave superconductors and Abelian topologically ordered (TO) phases. We derive the emergent theories for a wide variety of fractional quantum Hall states promoted by a ℤ2 gauge theory. The theory always carries an anyonic symmetry (AS) which effects a fermion parity flip. The associated twist defects, which flip the parities of some types of orbiting quasiparticles, trap ordinary zero energy Majorana bound states (MBS), and can bind fractional charge. For example, an h / 2 e flux vortex of the superconductor that circulates around the MBS undergoes a fermion parity flip and is accompanied by a level crossing in the vortex energy spectrum. We show numerical evidence of the level crossing in the simplest examples: a Chern insulator and a normal insulator/topological insulator/superconductor junction. Finally, we briefly describe the resulting twist liquid theory after gauging the AS where the twist defects become deconfined anyonic excitations.

Reentrance to the superconducting state through the application of a magnetic field to quasi-one dimensional superconductors driven resistive by current, is counter to the expected properties of superconductors. It was not until recently that a microscopic mechanism explaining the phenomenon was proposed in which superconductivity and phase slip driven dissipation coexist in a non-equilibrium state. Here we present additional results of magnetic field induced reentrance into the superconducting state in quasi-one-dimensional aluminum nanowires with an in-plane magnetic field both transverse to, and along the wire axis. The reentrant behavior is seen in the magnetic field dependence of the I-V characteristic and resistance vs. temperature, and in the wire's magnetoresistance at 450mK. This work was supported by DOE Basic Energy Sciences Grant DE-FG02-02ER46004. Samples were fabricated at the Minnesota Nanofabrication Center. Parts of this work were carried out in the University of Minnesota Characterization Facility, a member of the Materials Research Facilities Network (www.mrfn.org) funded via the NSF MRSEC program.

The relationship between antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations and superconductivity has become a central topic of research in studies of superconductivity in the iron pnictides. We present unambiguous evidence of the absence of magnetic fluctuations in the nonsuperconducting collapsed tetragonal phase of CaFe2As2 via inelastic neutron scattering time-of-flight data, which is consistent with the view that spin fluctuations are a necessary ingredient for unconventional superconductivity in the iron pnictides. We demonstrate that the collapsed tetragonal phase of CaFe2As2 is nonmagnetic, and discuss this result in light of recent reports of high-temperature superconductivity in the collapsed tetragonal phase of closely related compounds.

In this work, the low temperature synthesis of MgB2 from Mg/B and MgH2/B powder mixtures was studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). For the Mg/B powder mixture, two exothermic reaction events were observed and the first reaction event was initiated by the decomposition of Mg(OH)2 on the surface of the magnesium powder. For the MgH 2/B powder mixture, there was an endothermic event at ˜375 °C (the decomposition of MgH2 into H2 and Mg) and an exothermic event ˜600 °C (the reaction of Mg and B). The Kissinger analysis method was used to estimate the apparent activation energy of the Mg and B reaction using DSC data with different furnace ramp rates. The limitations of MgB2 low temperature synthesis led to the development of a high pressure induction furnace that was constructed using a pressure vessel and an induction heating power supply. The purpose was to not only synthesize more homogeneous MgB2 samples, but also to determine whether MgB2 melts congruently or incongruently. A custom implementation of the Smith Thermal Analysis method was developed and tested on aluminum and AlB2, the closest analogue to MgB2. Measurements on MgB2 powder and a high purity Mg/B elemental mixture confirmed that MgB2 melts incongruently and decomposes into a liquid and MgB4 at ˜1445 °C at 10 MPa via peritectic decomposition. Another measurement using a Mg/B elemental mixture with impure boron suggested that ˜0.7 wt% carbon impurity in the boron raised the incongruent melting temperature to ˜1490-1500 °C. Lastly, the solubility limit for carbon in MgB2 was studied by making samples from B4C and Mg at 1530 °C, 1600 °C and 1700 °C in the high pressure furnace. All three samples had three phases: Mg, MgB2C2, and carbon doped MgB2. The MgB 2C2 and carbon doped MgB2 grain size increased with temperature and the 1700 °C sample had needle-like grains for both phases. The presence of the ternary phase, MgB2C2, suggested that the maximum doping limit for carbon in

The discovery of new high-temperature superconductors based on FeAs has led to a new 'gold rush' in high-T{sub C} superconductivity. All of the new superconductors share the same common structural motif of FeAs layers and reach T{sub C} values up to 55 K. Recently, superconductivity has been reported in FeSe, which has the same iron pnictide layer structure, but without separating layers. Here, we report the magnetic and electronic phase diagram of {beta}-Fe{sub 1.01}Se as a function of temperature and pressure. The superconducting transition temperature increases from 8.5 to 36.7 K under an applied pressure of 8.9 GPa. It then decreases at higher pressures. A marked change in volume is observed at the same time as T{sub C} rises, owing to a collapse of the separation between the Fe{sub 2}Se{sub 2} layers. No static magnetic ordering is observed for the whole p-T phase diagram. We also report that at higher pressures (starting around 7 GPa and completed at 38 GPa), Fe{sub 1.01}Se transforms to a hexagonal NiAs-type structure and exhibits non-magnetic behavior.

In this paper we report a detailed $\\mu^{+}$SR and {}$^{19}$F-NMR study of the La$_{0.7}$Y$_{0.3}$FeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$ class of materials. Here, the diamagnetic La$_{1-y}$Y$_{y}$ substitution increases chemical pressure and, accordingly, sizeably enhances the optimal superconducting transition temperature. We investigate the magnetic-superconductingphase transition by keeping the Y content constant ($y = 0.3$) and by varying the F content in the range $0.025 \\leq x \\leq 0.15$. Our results show how magnetism and superconductivity coexist for $x = 0.065$. Such coexistence is due to segregation of the two phases in macroscopic regions, resembling what was observed in LaFeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$ materials under applied hydrostatic pressure. This scenario is qualitatively different from the nanoscopic coexistence of the two order parameters observed when La is fully substituted by magnetic rare-earth ions like Sm or Ce.

Recent evidence of neuropathic pain among adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) reveals a need for adjuvant analgesic treatments for these patients. Ca(2+)/calmodulin protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) has a known role in neuropathic pain and trifluoperazine is a potent CaMKIIα inhibitor. The study aim was to determine trifluoperazine's acute effects, primarily on adverse effects and secondarily on pain intensity reduction, in adults with SCD. In a phase I, open-label study of 6 doses of trifluoperazine (0.5, 1, 2, 5, 7.5, 10mg), we obtained 7-hourly and 24-h repeated measures of adverse effects, pain intensity, and supplemental opioid analgesics in 18 adults with SCD (18 hemoglobin SS disease, 15 women, average age 35.8±8.9 years, ranged 23-53) each of whom received a single dose. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Subjects reported moderate to severe sedative effects at 7.5 and 10mg doses, respectively. Eight subjects reported 50% reduction in chronic pain without severe sedation or supplemental opioid analgesics; one of these subjects had dystonia 24.5h after the 10mg dose. The analgesic effect lasted for at least 24h in 3 subjects. Sedation resolved with caffeine and dystonia resolved with diphenhydramine. Adults with SCD experienced minimal adverse effects at doses under 10mg. In this molecular mechanism-driven translational study, trifluoperazine shows promise as an analgesic drug that is worthy of further testing in a randomized controlled study of adults with SCD starting at a dose of 1mg in repeated doses to determine long-term adverse and analgesic effects. PMID:24211787

Using ultraviolet absorption lines, we analyze the systematic properties of the warm ionized phase of starburst-driven winds in a sample of 39 low-redshift objects that spans broad ranges in starburst and galaxy properties. Total column densities for the outflows are ˜1021 cm-2. The outflow velocity (vout) correlates only weakly with the galaxy stellar mass ({M}*), or circular velocity (vcir), but strongly with both SFR and SFR/area. The normalized outflow velocity ({v}{out}/{v}{cir}) correlates well with both SFR/area and SFR/{M}*. The estimated outflow rates of warm ionized gas (\\dot{M}) are ˜1-4 times the SFR, and the ratio \\dot{M}/{SFR} does not correlate with vout. We show that a model of a population of clouds accelerated by the combined forces of gravity and the momentum flux from the starburst matches the data. We find a threshold value for the ratio of the momentum flux supplied by the starburst to the critical momentum flux needed for the wind to overcome gravity acting on the clouds (Rcrit). For {R}{crit} \\gt 10 (strong-outflows) the outflow’s momentum flux is similar to the total momentum flux from the starburst and the outflow velocity exceeds the galaxy escape velocity. Neither of these is the case for the weak outflows ({R}{crit} \\lt 10). For the weak-outflows, the data severely disagree with many prescriptions in numerical simulations or semi-analytic models of galaxy evolution. The agreement is better for the strong outflows, and we advocate the use of Rcrit to guide future prescriptions.

New data on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi2212) reveal interesting aspects of photoexcited superconductors. The electrons dynamics show that inelastic scattering by nodal quasiparticles decreases when the temperature is lowered below the critical value of the superconductingphase transition. This drop of electronic dissipation is astonishingly robust and survives to photoexcitation densities much larger than the value sustained by long-range superconductivity. The unconventional behavior of quasiparticle scattering is ascribed to superconducting correlations extending on a length scale comparable to the inelastic mean-free path. Our measurements indicate that strongly driven superconductors enter in a regime without phase coherence but finite pairing amplitude.

Spontaneous self-assembly of a multi-cation nanophase in another multi-cation matrix phase is a promising bottom-up approach to fabricate novel, nanocomposite structures for a range of applications. In an effort to understand the mechanisms for such self-assembly, we report on complimentary experimental and theoretical studies to first understand and then control or guide the self-assembly of insulating BaZrO3 (BZO) nanodots within REBa2Cu3O7- (RE=rare earth elements including Y, REBCO) superconducting films. It was determined that the strain field developed around BZO nanodots embedded in REBCO matrix is a key driving force dictating the self-assembly of BZO nanodots along REBCO c-axis. The size selection and spatial ordering of BZO self-assembly were simulated using thermodynamic and kinetic models. The BZO self-assembly was controllable by tuning the interphase strain field. REBCO superconducting films with BZO defects arrays self-assembled to align in both vertical (REBCO c-axis) and horizontal (REBCO ab-planes) directions, resulted in the maximized pinning and Jc performance for all field angles with smaller angular Jc anisotropy. The work has broad implications for fabrication of controlled self-assembled nanostructures for a range of applications via strain-tuning.

A superconductive article is made by inserting a rigid mandrel into an internal cavity of a first metallic tube, said tube having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining the interior cavity, forming a layer of a superconductive material or superconductive precursor upon the exterior surface of said first metallic tube, machining the layer of superconductive material or superconductive precursor to a predetermined diameter to form an intermediate article configured for insertion into a second metallic tube having an interior diameter corresponding to the predetermined diameter, inserting the machined intermediate article into a second metallic tube having an internal diameter corresponding to the predetermined diameter of the intermediate article to form a composite intermediate article, reducing or ironing the composite intermediate article to a predetermined cross-sectional diameter, and sintering the reduced or ironed composite intermediate article at temperatures and for time sufficient for the superconductive material or superconductive precursor to exhibit superconductivity.

A superconductive article is made by inserting a rigid mandrel into an internal cavity of a first metallic tube, said tube having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining the interior cavity, forming a layer of a superconductive material or superconductive precursor upon the exterior surface of said first metallic tube, machining the layer of superconductive material or superconductive precursor to a predetermined diameter to form an intermediate article configured for insertion into a second metallic tube having an interior diameter corresponding to the predetermined diameter, inserting the machined intermediate article into a second metallic tube having an internal diameter corresponding to the predetermined diameter of the intermediate article to form a composite intermediate article, reducing or ironing the composite intermediate article to a predetermined cross-sectional diameter, and sintering the reduced or ironed composite intermediate article at temperatures and for time sufficient for the superconductive material or superconductive precursor to exhibit superconductivity. 2 figs.

A superconducting transistor is formed by disposing three thin films of superconducting material in a planar parallel arrangement and insulating the films from each other by layers of insulating oxides to form two tunnel junctions. One junction is biased above twice the superconducting energy gap and the other is biased at less than twice the superconducting energy gap. Injection of quasiparticles into the center film by one junction provides a current gain in the second junction.

A possible explanation for the existence of the cuprate 'pseudogap' state is that it is a d-wave superconductor without quantum phase rigidity. Transport and thermodynamic studies provide compelling evidence that supports this proposal, but few spectroscopic explorations of it have been made. One spectroscopic signature of d-wave superconductivity is the particle-hole symmetric 'octet' of dispersive Bogoliubov quasiparticle interference modulations. Here we report on this octet's evolution from low temperatures to well into the underdoped pseudogap regime. No pronounced changes occur in the octet phenomenology at the superconductor's critical temperature T{sub c}, and it survives up to at least temperature T {approx} 1.5 T{sub c}. In this pseudogap regime, we observe the detailed phenomenology that was theoretically predicted for quasiparticle interference in a phase-incoherent d-wave superconductor. Thus, our results not only provide spectroscopic evidence to confirm and extend the transport and thermodynamics studies, but they also open the way for spectroscopic explorations of phase fluctuation rates, their effects on the Fermi arc, and the fundamental source of the phase fluctuations that suppress superconductivity in underdoped cuprates.

We have observed spontaneous symmetry breaking of the population of Brownian particles between two moving potentials in the spatiotemporally symmetric system. Cold atoms preferentially occupy one of the dynamic double-well potentials, produced in the parametrically driven dissipative magneto-optical trap far from equilibrium, above a critical number of atoms. We find that the population asymmetry, which may be interpreted as the biased Brownian motion, can be qualitatively described by the mean-field Ising-class phase transition. This in situ study may be useful for investigation of dynamic phase transition or temporal behavior of critical phenomena.

Memristors, resistive elements that retain information of their past, have garnered interest due to their paradigm-changing potential in information processing and electronics. The emergent hysteretic behaviour allows for novel architectural applications and has recently been classically demonstrated in a simplified superconducting setup using the phase-dependent conductance in the tunnel-junction-microscopic model. In this contribution, we present a truly quantum model for a memristor constructed using established elements and techniques in superconducting nanoelectronics, and explore the parameters for feasible operation as well as refine the methods for quantifying the memory retention. In particular, the memristive behaviour is shown to arise from quasiparticle-induced tunneling in the full dissipative model and can be observed in the phase-driven tunneling current. The relevant hysteretic behaviour should be observable using current state-of-the-art measurements for detecting quasiparticle excitations. Our theoretical findings constitute the first quantum memristor in a superconducting circuit and act as the starting point for designing further circuit elements that have non-Markovian characteristics The authors acknowledge support from the CCQED EU project and the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Single crystals of Bi2Rh3S2 and Bi2Rh3.5S2 were synthesized by solution growth, and the crystal structures and thermodynamic and transport properties of both compounds were studied. In the case of Bi2Rh3S2, a structural first-order transition at around 165 K is identified by single-crystal diffraction experiments, with clear signatures visible in resistivity, magnetization, and specific heat data. No superconducting transition for Bi2Rh3S2 was observed down to 0.5 K. In contrast, no structural phase transition at high temperature was observed for Bi2Rh3.5S2; however, bulk superconductivity with a critical temperature, Tc ≈ 1.7 K, was observed. The Sommerfeld coefficient γ and the Debye temperaturemore » (ΘD) were found to be 9.41 mJ mol–1K–2 and 209 K, respectively, for Bi2Rh3S2, and 22 mJ mol–1K–2 and 196 K, respectively, for Bi2Rh3.5S2. As a result, the study of the specific heat in the superconducting state of Bi2Rh3.5S2 suggests that Bi2Rh3.5S2 is a weakly coupled, BCS superconductor.« less

Single crystals of Bi2Rh3S2 and Bi2Rh3.5S2 were synthesized by solution growth, and the crystal structures and thermodynamic and transport properties of both compounds were studied. In the case of Bi2Rh3S2 , a structural first-order transition at around 165 K is identified by single-crystal diffraction experiments, with clear signatures visible in resistivity, magnetization, and specific heat data. No superconducting transition for Bi2Rh3S2 was observed down to 0.5 K. In contrast, no structural phase transition at high temperature was observed for Bi2Rh3.5S2 ; however, bulk superconductivity with a critical temperature, Tc≈1.7 K, was observed. The Sommerfeld coefficient γ and the Debye temperature (ΘD ) were found to be 9.41 mJ mol-1K-2 and 209 K, respectively, for Bi2Rh3S2 , and 22 mJ mol-1K-2 and 196 K, respectively, for Bi2Rh3.5S2 . Study of the specific heat in the superconducting state of Bi2Rh3.5S2 suggests that Bi2Rh3.5S2 is a weakly coupled, BCS superconductor.

Superconducting samples of type Y3Ba5Cu8O18‑δ substituted by both Nd3+ and Ca2+ ions were prepared by a solid-state reaction technique. These substitutions affect the phase formation, lattice parameters, grains formations and superconducting transition temperature Tc. The change in these parameters is mainly due to the partial substitution of Ba2+ by Ca2+ ions rather than the partial substitution of Y3+ by Nd3+ ions. The analysis of the electrical resistivity ρ(T) versus temperature above Tc was carried out using Aslamazov-Larkin (AL) and Lawrence-Doniach (LD) models. Different fluctuation regions starting from high temperature up to Tc were estimated, and denoted by short-wave (sw), two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D) and critical (cr) fluctuations. A distinct crossover temperature (T2D‑3D = T LD) from 2D to 3D, in the mean field region (MFR), is shifted to lower temperature by increasing substitutions content. The superconducting parameters such as zero temperature coherence length along the c-axis ξc(0), inter-layer coupling strength ν, Fermi velocity VF of the carriers and Fermi energy EF were calculated as a function of substitution content.

A stable and reproducible superconductivity transition between 80 and 93 K has been achieved and maintained in a Y-Ba-Cu-O compound system at ambient pressure in a simple liquid-nitrogen Dewar. An upper critical field Hc2(0) estimate of between 80 and 180 T is obtained, and the paramagnetic limiting field at 0 K for a sample with a T(c) of about 90 K is 165 T. It is suggested that the lattice parameters, the valence ratio, and the sample treatments all play a role in achieving superconductivity above 77 K.

The use of biopolymers as templates to control superconductor crystallization is a recent phenomenon and is generating a lot of interest both from the superconductor community and in materials chemistry circles. This work represents a critical finding in the use of such biopolymers, in particular the contraindicatory nature of sulfur when attempting to affect a morphologically controlled synthesis. Synthesis of superconducting nanoparticles was attempted using carrageenan as a morphological template. Reactive sulfate groups on the biopolymer prevent this, producing instead significant quantities of barium sulfate nanotapes. By substituting the biopolymer for structurally analogous, non-sulfated agar, we show that superconducting nanoparticles could be successfully synthesized.

At ultrahigh pressure (>110 GPa), H2 S is converted into a metallic phase that becomes superconducting with a record Tc of approximately 200 K. It has been proposed that the superconductingphase is body-centered cubic H3 S (Im3‾ m, a=3.089 Å) resulting from the decomposition reaction 3 H2 S→2 H3 S+S. The analogy between H2 S and H2 O led us to a very different conclusion. The well-known dissociation of water into H3 O(+) and OH(-) increases by orders of magnitude under pressure. H2 S is anticipated to behave similarly under pressure, with the dissociation process 2 H2 S→H3 S(+) +SH(-) leading to the perovskite structure (SH(-) )(H3 S(+) ). This phase consists of corner-sharing SH6 octahedra with SH(-) ions at each A site (the centers of the S8 cubes). DFT calculations show that the perovskite (SH(-) )(H3 S(+) ) is thermodynamically more stable than the Im3‾ m structure of H3 S, and suggest that the A site hydrogen atoms are most likely fluxional even at Tc . PMID:26855072

Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) is the first and best known superconducting semiconductor. It exhibits an extremely low carrier density threshold for superconductivity, and possesses a phase diagram similar to that of high-temperature superconductors--two factors that suggest an unconventional pairing mechanism. Despite sustained interest for 50 years, direct experimental insight into the nature of electron pairing in SrTiO3 has remained elusive. Here we perform transport experiments with nanowire-based single-electron transistors at the interface between SrTiO3 and a thin layer of lanthanum aluminate, LaAlO3. Electrostatic gating reveals a series of two-electron conductance resonances-paired electron states--that bifurcate above a critical pairing field Bp of about 1-4 tesla, an order of magnitude larger than the superconducting critical magnetic field. For magnetic fields below Bp, these resonances are insensitive to the applied magnetic field; for fields in excess of Bp, the resonances exhibit a linear Zeeman-like energy splitting. Electron pairing is stable at temperatures as high as 900 millikelvin, well above the superconducting transition temperature (about 300 millikelvin). These experiments demonstrate the existence of a robust electronic phase in which electrons pair without forming a superconducting state. Key experimental signatures are captured by a model involving an attractive Hubbard interaction that describes real-space electron pairing as a precursor to superconductivity. PMID:25971511

Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) is the first and best known superconducting semiconductor. It exhibits an extremely low carrier density threshold for superconductivity, and possesses a phase diagram similar to that of high-temperature superconductors--two factors that suggest an unconventional pairing mechanism. Despite sustained interest for 50 years, direct experimental insight into the nature of electron pairing in SrTiO3 has remained elusive. Here we perform transport experiments with nanowire-based single-electron transistors at the interface between SrTiO3 and a thin layer of lanthanum aluminate, LaAlO3. Electrostatic gating reveals a series of two-electron conductance resonances--paired electron states--that bifurcate above a critical pairing field Bp of about 1-4 tesla, an order of magnitude larger than the superconducting critical magnetic field. For magnetic fields below Bp, these resonances are insensitive to the applied magnetic field; for fields in excess of Bp, the resonances exhibit a linear Zeeman-like energy splitting. Electron pairing is stable at temperatures as high as 900 millikelvin, well above the superconducting transition temperature (about 300 millikelvin). These experiments demonstrate the existence of a robust electronic phase in which electrons pair without forming a superconducting state. Key experimental signatures are captured by a model involving an attractive Hubbard interaction that describes real-space electron pairing as a precursor to superconductivity.

Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) is the first and best known superconducting semiconductor. It exhibits an extremely low carrier density threshold for superconductivity, and possesses a phase diagram similar to that of high-temperature superconductors--two factors that suggest an unconventional pairing mechanism. Despite sustained interest for 50 years, direct experimental insight into the nature of electron pairing in SrTiO3 has remained elusive. Here we perform transport experiments with nanowire-based single-electron transistors at the interface between SrTiO3 and a thin layer of lanthanum aluminate, LaAlO3. Electrostatic gating reveals a series of two-electron conductance resonances--paired electron states--that bifurcate above a critical pairing field Bp of about 1-4 tesla, an order of magnitude larger than the superconducting critical magnetic field. For magnetic fields below Bp, these resonances are insensitive to the applied magnetic field; for fields in excess of Bp, the resonances exhibit a linear Zeeman-like energy splitting. Electron pairing is stable at temperatures as high as 900 millikelvin, well above the superconducting transition temperature (about 300 millikelvin). These experiments demonstrate the existence of a robust electronic phase in which electrons pair without forming a superconducting state. Key experimental signatures are captured by a model involving an attractive Hubbard interaction that describes real-space electron pairing as a precursor to superconductivity. Support from AFOSR, ONR, ARO, NSF, DOE and NSSEFF is gratefully acknowledged.

The crystal structure and electrical resistivity of YBa2Cu4O8 (Y124) were studied under high pressure up to 18 GPa using diamond-anvil cells, respectively, in order to clarify its conduction mechanism. Y124 causes the first-order phase-transition into the orthorhombic Immm at pressure around 11 GPa. The high-pressure phase (HPP) also shows the superconductivity, while the manner of temperature dependence of electrical resistance and the pressure dependence of transition temperature, Tc, drastically change above 11 GPa. The CuO2 plane persists in HPP but the CuO double chains collapse with the phase transition and transform into three-dimensional Cu-O network, resulting in the renewal of conduction system.

It is highly desirable to develop controlled synthetic methods at low temperature (<100 °C) for defined phases of titanium oxide nanoparticle. We present here a simple low temperature approach which is based on the peroxide route. This approach allows the preparation of phase-pure rutile and anatase without the use of any additives or surfactants or external acids. The formation of crystalline phases is found to be dependent on reaction temperature and highly dependent on concentration. Phase-pure rutile is obtained in two concentration zones while phase-pure anatase is obtained in one concentration zone. The relationship between phases and reaction conditions (concentration and temperature) fits well with the nucleation diffusion rate model. PMID:25746180

Alkali-doped fullerides ({{A}3}{{\\text{C}}60} with A = K, Rb, Cs) show a surprising phase diagram, in which a high transition-temperature ({{T}\\text{c}} ) s-wave superconducting state emerges next to a Mott insulating phase as a function of the lattice spacing. This is in contrast with the common belief that Mott physics and phonon-driven s-wave superconductivity are incompatible, raising a fundamental question on the mechanism of the high-{{T}\\text{c}} superconductivity. This article reviews recent ab initio calculations, which have succeeded in reproducing comprehensively the experimental phase diagram with high accuracy and elucidated an unusual cooperation between the electron-phonon coupling and the electron-electron interactions leading to Mott localization to realize an unconventional s-wave superconductivity in the alkali-doped fullerides. A driving force behind the exotic physics is unusual intramolecular interactions, characterized by the coexistence of a strongly repulsive Coulomb interaction and a small effectively negative exchange interaction. This is realized by a subtle energy balance between the coupling with the Jahn-Teller phonons and Hund’s coupling within the {{\\text{C}}60} molecule. The unusual form of the interaction leads to a formation of pairs of up- and down-spin electrons on the molecules, which enables the s-wave pairing. The emergent superconductivity crucially relies on the presence of the Jahn-Teller phonons, but surprisingly benefits from the strong correlations because the correlations suppress the kinetic energy of the electrons and help the formation of the electron pairs, in agreement with previous model calculations. This confirms that the alkali-doped fullerides are a new type of unconventional superconductors, where the unusual synergy between the phonons and Coulomb interactions drives the high-{{T}\\text{c}} superconductivity.

Alkali-doped fullerides (A3C60 with A = K, Rb, Cs) show a surprising phase diagram, in which a high transition-temperature (Tc) s-wave superconducting state emerges next to a Mott insulating phase as a function of the lattice spacing. This is in contrast with the common belief that Mott physics and phonon-driven s-wave superconductivity are incompatible, raising a fundamental question on the mechanism of the high-Tc superconductivity. This article reviews recent ab initio calculations, which have succeeded in reproducing comprehensively the experimental phase diagram with high accuracy and elucidated an unusual cooperation between the electron-phonon coupling and the electron-electron interactions leading to Mott localization to realize an unconventional s-wave superconductivity in the alkali-doped fullerides. A driving force behind the exotic physics is unusual intramolecular interactions, characterized by the coexistence of a strongly repulsive Coulomb interaction and a small effectively negative exchange interaction. This is realized by a subtle energy balance between the coupling with the Jahn-Teller phonons and Hund's coupling within the C60 molecule. The unusual form of the interaction leads to a formation of pairs of up- and down-spin electrons on the molecules, which enables the s-wave pairing. The emergent superconductivity crucially relies on the presence of the Jahn-Teller phonons, but surprisingly benefits from the strong correlations because the correlations suppress the kinetic energy of the electrons and help the formation of the electron pairs, in agreement with previous model calculations. This confirms that the alkali-doped fullerides are a new type of unconventional superconductors, where the unusual synergy between the phonons and Coulomb interactions drives the high-Tc superconductivity. PMID:26974650

In situ techniques with high temporal, spatial and chemical resolution are key to understand ubiquitous solid-state phase transformations, which are crucial to many technological applications. Hard X-ray spectro-imaging can visualize electrochemically drivenphase transformations but demands considerably large samples with strong absorption signal so far. Here we show a conceptually new data analysis method to enable operando visualization of mechanistically relevant weakly absorbing samples at the nanoscale and study electrochemical reaction dynamics of iron fluoride, a promising high-capacity conversion cathode material. In two specially designed samples with distinctive microstructure and porosity, we observe homogeneous phase transformations during both discharge and charge, faster and more complete Li-storage occurring in porous polycrystalline iron fluoride, and further, incomplete charge reaction following a pathway different from conventional belief. These mechanistic insights provide guidelines for designing better conversion cathode materials to realize the promise of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. PMID:25892338

In situ techniques with high temporal, spatial and chemical resolution are key to understand ubiquitous solid-state phase transformations, which are crucial to many technological applications. Hard X-ray spectro-imaging can visualize electrochemically drivenphase transformations but demands considerably large samples with strong absorption signal so far. Here we show a conceptually new data analysis method to enable operando visualization of mechanistically relevant weakly absorbing samples at the nanoscale and study electrochemical reaction dynamics of iron fluoride, a promising high-capacity conversion cathode material. In two specially designed samples with distinctive microstructure and porosity, we observe homogeneous phase transformations during both discharge and charge, faster and more complete Li-storage occurring in porous polycrystalline iron fluoride, and further, incomplete charge reaction following a pathway different from conventional belief. In conclusion, these mechanistic insights provide guidelines for designing better conversion cathode materials to realize the promise of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries.

In situ techniques with high temporal, spatial and chemical resolution are key to understand ubiquitous solid-state phase transformations, which are crucial to many technological applications. Hard X-ray spectro-imaging can visualize electrochemically drivenphase transformations but demands considerably large samples with strong absorption signal so far. Here we show a conceptually new data analysis method to enable operando visualization of mechanistically relevant weakly absorbing samples at the nanoscale and study electrochemical reaction dynamics of iron fluoride, a promising high-capacity conversion cathode material. In two specially designed samples with distinctive microstructure and porosity, we observe homogeneous phase transformations during both discharge and charge, faster and more complete Li-storage occurring in porous polycrystalline iron fluoride, and further, incomplete charge reaction following a pathway different from conventional belief. These mechanistic insights provide guidelines for designing better conversion cathode materials to realize the promise of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. PMID:25892338

In situ techniques with high temporal, spatial and chemical resolution are key to understand ubiquitous solid-state phase transformations, which are crucial to many technological applications. Hard X-ray spectro-imaging can visualize electrochemically drivenphase transformations but demands considerably large samples with strong absorption signal so far. Here we show a conceptually new data analysis method to enable operando visualization of mechanistically relevant weakly absorbing samples at the nanoscale and study electrochemical reaction dynamics of iron fluoride, a promising high-capacity conversion cathode material. In two specially designed samples with distinctive microstructure and porosity, we observe homogeneous phase transformations during both discharge and charge, faster and more complete Li-storage occurring in porous polycrystalline iron fluoride, and further, incomplete charge reaction following a pathway different from conventional belief. These mechanistic insights provide guidelines for designing better conversion cathode materials to realize the promise of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries.

High pressure and high strain-rate experiments are opening a new frontier toward the study of material science under extreme conditions. As the energy density of experimental platforms is increased, the timescale for observation is typically decreased to the point where the time dependence of phase transitions is now a subject of direct study. We will present new phase transition kinetics models that have been developed with unique considerations that arise in shock-wave drivenphase transformation, highlighting applications of the methodology to the simulation of recent experiments of iron and water. This work is performed under the auspices of the U. S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

This work describes chromatographic properties of reversed-phase/cation-exchange/anion-exchange trimodal stationary phases. These stationary phases were based on high-purity porous spherical silica particles coated with nano-polymer beads using an electrostatically driven self-assembly process. The inner-pore area of the material was modified covalently with an organic layer that provided both reversed-phase and anion-exchange properties while the outer surface was coated with nano-sized polymer beads with strong cation-exchange characteristics. This design ensured spatial separation of the anion-exchange and the cation-exchange regions, and allowed reversed-phase, anion-exchange and cation-exchange retention mechanisms to function simultaneously. Chromatographic evaluation of ions and small molecules suggested that retention of ionic analytes was influenced by the ionic strength, pH, and mobile phase organic solvent content, and governed by both ion-exchange and hydrophobic interactions. Meanwhile, neutral analytes were retained by hydrophobic interaction and was mainly affected by mobile phase organic solvent content. Depending on the specific application, selectivity could be optimized by adjusting the anion-exchange/cation-exchange capacity ratio (selectivity), which was achieved experimentally by using porous silica particles with different surface areas. PMID:21530974

Devices offer switching speeds greater than semiconducting counterparts. High-Tc superconducting field-effect transistors (SUPEFETs) investigated for use as electronic switches in delay-line-type microwave phase shifters. Resemble semiconductor field-effect transistors in some respects, but their operation based on different principle; namely, electric-field control of transition between superconductivity and normal conductivity.

The present invention is for a compact superconducting power transmission cable operating at distribution level voltages. The superconducting cable is a conductor with a number of tapes assembled into a subconductor. These conductors are then mounted co-planarly in an elongated dielectric to produce a 3-phase cable. The arrangement increases the magnetic field parallel to the tapes thereby reducing ac losses.

The present invention is for a compact superconducting power transmission cable operating at distribution level voltages. The superconducting cable is a conductor with a number of tapes assembled into a subconductor. These conductors are then mounted co-planarly in an elongated dielectric to produce a 3-phase cable. The arrangement increases the magnetic field parallel to the tapes thereby reducing ac losses.

X-ray studies show the existence of two different types of expansions of the intercalated unit cell in both Na and K compounds. Two different phases are also indicated in the superconducting behavior of the K compound. All intercalated samples studied show a superconducting transition. K and Rb compounds become superconductors in the temperature range from 6.5 to 6.0 K. The Na compounds become superconductors at about 4.5 K. In all cases, the superconductivity disappears upon a short exposure of the sample to air. This phenomenon confirms that the superconductivity is due to the presence of the alkali metal.

We study the order parameter of a quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) gas of ultracold atoms trapped in an optical potential in the presence of controllable disorder. Our results show that disorder drives phase fluctuations without significantly affecting the amplitude of the quasi-condensate order parameter. This is evidence that disorder can drive phase fluctuations in 2D systems, relevant to the phase-fluctuation mechanism for the superconductor-to-insulator phase transition (SIT) in disordered 2D superconductors.

The phase transformation between the orthorhombic and tetragonal structures of six high-Tc superconductors, Ba2RCu3O7−δ, where R = Nd, Sm, Gd, Y, Ho, and Er, and δ = 0 to 1, has been investigated using techniques of x-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/TGA) and electron diffraction. The transformation from the oxygen-rich orthorhombic phase to the oxygen-deficient tetragonal phase involves two orthorhombic phases. A superlattice cell caused by oxygen ordering, with a′ = 2a, was observed for materials with smaller ionic radius (Y, Ho, and Er). For the larger lanthanide samples (Nd, Sm, and Gd), the a′ = 2a type superlattice cell was not observed. The structural phase transition temperatures, oxygen stoichiometry and characteristics of the Tc plateaus appear to correlate with the ionic radius, which varies based on the number of f electrons. Lanthanide elements with a smaller ionic radius stabilize the orthorhombic phase to higher temperatures and lower oxygen content. Also, the superconducting temperature is less sensitive to the oxygen content for materials with smaller ionic radius. The trend of dependence of the phase transformation temperature on ionic radius across the lanthanide series can be explained using a quasi-chemical approximation (QCA) whereby the strain effect plays an important role on the order-disorder transition due to the effect of oxygen content on the CuO chain sites. PMID:27274916

Graphene offers an exposed bidimensional gas of high mobility charge carriers with gate tunable density. Its chemical inertness offers an outstanding platform to explore exotic 2D superconductivity. Superconductivity can be induced in graphene by means of proximity effect (by depositing a set of superconducting metal clusters such as lead or tin nanoparticles). The influence of decoration material, density or particles and disorder of graphene will be discussed. In the case of disordered graphene, Tin decoration leads to a gate-tunable superconducting-to-insulator quantum phase transition. Superconductivity in graphene is also expected to occur under strong charge doping (induced either by gating or under chemical decoration, in analogy with graphite intercalated compounds). I will also show preliminary results showing the influence of Calcium intercalation of few layer graphene and progress toward the demonstration of intrinsic superconductivity in such systems. Work supported by EU GRANT FP7-NMP GRENADA.

The concept of a new type of pneumatically-driven split-Stirling-cycle cryocooler with clearance-phase-adjustor is proposed. In this implementation, the gap between the phase-adjusting part and the cylinder of the spring chamber is used, instead of dry friction acting on the pneumatically-driven rod to control motion damping of the displacer and to adjust the phase difference between the compression piston and displacer. It has the advantages of easy damping adjustment, low cost, and simplified manufacturing and assembly. A theoretical model has been established to simulate its dynamic performance. The linear compressor is modeled under adiabatic conditions, and the displacement of the compression piston is experimentally rectified. The working characteristics of the compressor motor and the principal losses of cooling, including regenerator inefficiency loss, solid conduction loss, shuttle loss, pump loss and radiation loss, are taken into account. The displacer motion was modeled as a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) forced system. A set of governing equations can be solved numerically to simulate the cooler's performance. The simulation is useful for understanding the physical processes occurring in the cooler and for predicting the cooler's performance.

We demonstrate the successful fabrication on CaF2 substrates of FeSe1−xTex films with 0≤x≤1, including the region of 0.1≤x≤0.4, which is well known to be the “phase-separation region,” via pulsed laser deposition that is a thermodynamically nonequilibrium method. In the resulting films, we observe a giant enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature, Tc, in the region of 0.1≤x≤0.4: The maximum value reaches 23 K, which is ∼1.5 times as large as the values reported for bulk samples of FeSe1−xTex. We present a complete phase diagram of FeSe1−xTex films. Surprisingly, a sudden suppression of Tc is observed at 0.1superconductivity realized in x=0−0.1 and in x≥0.2. To obtain a film of FeSe1−xTex with high Tc, the controls of the Te content x and the in-plane lattice strain are found to be key factors. PMID:25646450

We report the superconducting state properties of YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) on introduction of BaZrO3 (BZO) as a secondary phase. YBCO+xBZO (x= 0, 2, 4, 6, and 10 wt%) composite samples were prepared by solid state reaction method and characterized for structural, morphological and superconducting properties. X-ray diffraction confirms the increased crystallinity and images of scanning electron microscopy measurement show an increase in both grain size and grain connectivity on addition of BZO in YBCO. These effects are well pronounced in an applied magnetic field. Critical current density, JC, as well as the pinning force peaks at 4% of BZO concentration showed significant difference. A three-fold enhancement in JC and a six-fold enhancement in pinning force were observed at this optimum BZO concentration. This has been attributed to the pinning of flux lines in YBCO due to introduction of BZO as a secondary phase. These results show that this composite has potential application in high current applications.

We use the variational mean-field approach to systematically study the phase diagram of a bilayer heterostructure of the correlated transition metal oxide LaNiO3, grown along the (111) direction. The Ni3+ ions with d7 (or e1g) configuration form a buckled honeycomb lattice. We show that as a function of the strength of the on-site interactions, various topological phases emerge. In the presence of a reasonable size of the Hund s coupling, as the correlation is tuned from intermediate to strong, the following sequence of phases is found: (1) a Dirac half-semimetal phase, (2) a quantum anomalous Hall insulator (QAHI) phase with Chern number one, and (3) a ferromagnetic nematic phase breaking the lattice point group symmetry. The spin-orbit couplings and magnetism are both dynamically generated in the QAHI phase.

In order to provide a flexible oxide superconducting cable which is reduced in AC loss, tape-shaped superconducting wires covered with a stabilizing metal are wound on a flexible former. The superconducting wires are preferably laid on the former at a bending strain of not more than 0.2%. In laying on the former, a number of tape-shaped superconducting wires are laid on a core member in a side-by-side manner, to form a first layer. A prescribed number of tape-shaped superconducting wires are laid on top of the first layer in a side-by-side manner, to form a second layer. The former may be made of a metal, plastic, reinforced plastic, polymer, or a composite and provides flexibility to the superconducting wires and the cable formed therewith.

In order to provide a flexible oxide superconducting cable which is reduced in AC loss, tape-shaped superconducting wires covered with a stabilizing metal are wound on a flexible former. The superconducting wires are preferably laid on the former at a bending strain of not more than 0.2%. In laying on the former, a number of tape-shaped superconducting wires are laid on a core member in a side-by-side manner, to form a first layer. A prescribed number of tape-shaped superconducting wires are laid on top of the first layer in a side-by-side manner, to form a second layer. The former may be made of a metal, plastic, reinforced plastic, polymer, or a composite and provides flexibility to the superconducting wires and the cable formed therewith.

We present a theory for the large suppression of the superfluid density ρs in BaFe2(As1 -xPx )2 in the vicinity of a putative spin-density wave quantum critical point at a P doping, x =xc . We argue that the transition becomes weakly first order in the vicinity of xc, and disorder induces puddles of superconducting and antiferromagnetic regions at short length scales; thus, the system becomes an electronic microemulsion. We propose that frustrated Josephson couplings between the superconducting grains suppress ρs. In addition, the presence of "normal" quasiparticles at the interface of the frustrated Josephson junctions will give rise to a highly nontrivial feature in the low-frequency response in a narrow vicinity around xc. We propose a number of experiments to test our theory.

Bright, high-energy photon sources, such as synchrotrons and more recently the new generation of X-ray free-electron lasers, offer the attractive combination of high brilliance, short pulse duration and high-energy X-rays. Betatron X-rays produced within a laser-plasma wakefield accelerator provide an exciting complementary energetic photon source to these large scale facilities. We describe the first proof-of-principle experiments imaging shock-front evolution in laser driven targets using wakefield betatron X-rays. These pioneering experiments were performed on the 400TW Gemini laser at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK. Shock waves were driven into silicon wafers along the [100] direction, and stroboscopically imaged perpendicular to the shock propagation direction using a ~ 40 fs betatron X-ray pulse. These initial results showcase a promising, potentially table top sized X-ray source suitable for probing the response of materials under extreme condition.

Fluctuation spectroscopy is used to investigate the organic bandwidth-controlled Mott system {kappa}-(BEDT-TTF){sub 2}Cu[N(CN){sub 2}]Cl. We find evidence for percolative-type superconductivity in the spatially inhomogeneous coexistence region of antiferromagnetic insulating and superconducting states. When the superconducting transition is driven by a magnetic field, percolation seems to be dominated by instable superconducting clusters upon approaching T{sub c}(B) from above, before a 'classical' type of percolation is resumed at low fields, dominated by the fractional change of superconducting clusters. The 1/f noise is resolved into Lorentzian spectra in the crossover region, where the action of an individual fluctuator is enhanced, pointing to a mesoscopic phase separation.

High-temperature superconductivity confined to nanometer-scale interfaces has been a long standing goal because of potential applications in electronic devices. The spontaneous formation of a superconducting interface in bilayers consisting of an insulator (La.sub.2CuO.sub.4) and a metal (La.sub.1-xSr.sub.xCuO.sub.4), neither of which is superconducting per se, is described. Depending upon the layering sequence of the bilayers, T.sub.c may be either .about.15 K or .about.30 K. This highly robust phenomenon is confined to within 2-3 nm around the interface. After exposing the bilayer to ozone, T.sub.c exceeds 50 K and this enhanced superconductivity is also shown to originate from a 1 to 2 unit cell thick interfacial layer. The results demonstrate that engineering artificial heterostructures provides a novel, unconventional way to fabricate stable, quasi two-dimensional high T.sub.c phases and to significantly enhance superconducting properties in other superconductors. The superconducting interface may be implemented, for example, in SIS tunnel junctions or a SuFET.

Complex transition-metal oxides are important functional materials in areas such as energy and information storage. The cubic ABO3 perovskite is an archetypal example of this class, formed by the occupation of small octahedral B-sites within an AO3 network defined by larger A cations. We show that introduction of chemically mismatched octahedral cations into a cubic perovskite oxide parent phase modifies structure and composition beyond the unit cell length scale on the B sublattice alone. This affords an endotaxial nanocomposite of two cubic perovskite phases with distinct properties. These locally B-site cation-ordered and -disordered phases share a single AO3 network and have enhanced stability against the formation of a competing hexagonal structure over the single-phase parent. Synergic integration of the distinct properties of these phases by the coherent interfaces of the composite produces solid oxide fuel cell cathode performance superior to that expected from the component phases in isolation. PMID:23750709

The quest for higher critical temperatures is one of the main driving forces in the field of superconductivity. Recent theoretical and experimental results indicate that quantum size effects in isolated nano-grains can boost superconductivity with respect to the bulk limit. Here we explore the optimal range of parameters that lead to an enhancement of the critical temperature in a large three dimensional array of these superconducting nano-grains by combining mean-field, semiclassical and percolation techniques. We identify a broad range of parameters for which the array critical temperature, TcArray, can be up to a few times greater than the non-granular bulk limit, Tc 0. This prediction, valid only for conventional superconductors, takes into account an experimentally realistic distribution of grain sizes in the array, charging effects, dissipation by quasiparticles and limitations related to the proliferation of thermal fluctuations for sufficiently small grains. For small resistances we find the transition is percolation driven. Whereas at larger resistances the transition occurs above the percolation threshold due to phase fluctuations. JM acknowledes support from an EPSRC Ph.D studentship, AMG acknowledges support from EPSRC, grant No. EP/I004637/1, FCT, grant PTDC/FIS/111348/2009 and a Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant PIRG07-GA-2010-268172.

For a vortex lattice moving in a periodic array we show analytically and numerically that a new type of phase locking occurs in the presence of a longitudinal dc driving force and a transverse ac driving force. This phase locking is distinct from the Shapiro step phase locking found with longitudinal ac drives. We show that an increase in critical current and a fundamental phase-locked step width scale with the square of the driving ac amplitude. Our results should carry over to other systems such as vortex motion in Josephson-junction arrays.

High pressure plays an increasingly important role in both understanding superconductivity and the development of new superconducting materials. New superconductors were found in metallic and metal oxide systems at high pressure. However, because of the filled close-shell configuration, the superconductivity in molecular systems has been limited to charge-transferred salts and metal-doped carbon species with relatively low superconducting transition temperatures. Here, we report the low-temperature superconductingphase observed in diamagnetic carbon disulfide under high pressure. The superconductivity arises from a highly disordered extended state (CS4 phase or phase III[CS4]) at ∼6.2 K over a broad pressure range from 50 to 172 GPa. Based on the X-ray scattering data, we suggest that the local structural change from a tetrahedral to an octahedral configuration is responsible for the observed superconductivity. PMID:23818624

Superconductivity in the cuprates exhibits many unusual features. We study the two-dimensional Hubbard model with plaquette dynamical mean-field theory to address these unusual features and relate them to other normal-state phenomena, such as the pseudogap. Previous studies with this method found that upon doping the Mott insulator at low temperature a pseudogap phase appears. The low-temperature transition between that phase and the correlated metal at higher doping is first-order. A series of crossovers emerge along the Widom line extension of that first-order transition in the supercritical region. Here we show that the highly asymmetric dome of the dynamical mean-field superconducting transition temperature , the maximum of the condensation energy as a function of doping, the correlation between maximum and normal-state scattering rate, the change from potential-energy driven to kinetic-energy driven pairing mechanisms can all be understood as remnants of the normal state first-order transition and its associated crossovers that also act as an organizing principle for the superconducting state.

Superconductivity in the cuprates exhibits many unusual features. We study the two-dimensional Hubbard model with plaquette dynamical mean-field theory to address these unusual features and relate them to other normal-state phenomena, such as the pseudogap. Previous studies with this method found that upon doping the Mott insulator at low temperature a pseudogap phase appears. The low-temperature transition between that phase and the correlated metal at higher doping is first-order. A series of crossovers emerge along the Widom line extension of that first-order transition in the supercritical region. Here we show that the highly asymmetric dome of the dynamical mean-field superconducting transition temperature , the maximum of the condensation energy as a function of doping, the correlation between maximum and normal-state scattering rate, the change from potential-energy driven to kinetic-energy driven pairing mechanisms can all be understood as remnants of the normal state first-order transition and its associated crossovers that also act as an organizing principle for the superconducting state. PMID:26964524

Superconductivity in the cuprates exhibits many unusual features. We study the two-dimensional Hubbard model with plaquette dynamical mean-field theory to address these unusual features and relate them to other normal-state phenomena, such as the pseudogap. Previous studies with this method found that upon doping the Mott insulator at low temperature a pseudogap phase appears. The low-temperature transition between that phase and the correlated metal at higher doping is first-order. A series of crossovers emerge along the Widom line extension of that first-order transition in the supercritical region. Here we show that the highly asymmetric dome of the dynamical mean-field superconducting transition temperature , the maximum of the condensation energy as a function of doping, the correlation between maximum and normal-state scattering rate, the change from potential-energy driven to kinetic-energy driven pairing mechanisms can all be understood as remnants of the normal state first-order transition and its associated crossovers that also act as an organizing principle for the superconducting state. PMID:26964524

A concept for a new type of pneumatically-driven split-Stirling-cycle cryocooler with clearance-phase-adjustor has recently been described, along with a theoretical model for simulating its operation and performance (Zhang, in preparation, 2003). This paper describes experiments that have been carried out to systematically validate the model, and to characterize the performance of the cryocooler in several key areas. These include: oscillatory flow within the cooler, correlation between the compression piston and the free displacer, the impact of the cold-tip temperature and phase-adjusting clearance gaps on cooler performance. The minimum cold-tip temperature is used as primary gauge of refrigeration performance. Real-time measurements of gas pressures in different chambers, displacements of the compression piston and the free displacer have been performed to reveal the internal physical processes. The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the simulated ones.

Methods and systems for interfacial surface area contact between a dispersed phase liquid and a continuous phase liquid in counter-current flow for purposes such as solvent extraction. Initial droplets of a dispersed phase liquid material containing ferromagnetic particles functioning as a "packing" are introduced to a counter-current flow of the continuous phase. A high intensity pulsed electric field is applied so as to shatter the initial droplets into a ferromagnetic emulsion comprising many smaller daughter droplets having a greater combined total surface area than that of the initial droplets in contact with the continuous phase material. A magnetic field is applied to control the position of the ferromagnetic emulsion for enhanced coalescence of the daughter droplets into larger reformed droplets.

Methods and systems are disclosed for interfacial surface area contact between a dispersed phase liquid and a continuous phase liquid in counter-current flow for purposes such as solvent extraction. Initial droplets of a dispersed phase liquid material containing ferromagnetic particles functioning as a packing'' are introduced to a counter-current flow of the continuous phase. A high intensity pulsed electric field is applied so as to shatter the initial droplets into a ferromagnetic emulsion comprising many smaller daughter droplets having a greater combined total surface area than that of the initial droplets in contact with the continuous phase material. A magnetic field is applied to control the position of the ferromagnetic emulsion for enhanced coalescence of the daughter droplets into larger reformed droplets. 2 figs.

Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) exhibits an extremely low carrier density threshold for superconductivity, and possesses a phase diagram similar to high-temperature superconductors--two factors that suggest an unconventional pairing mechanism. We describe transport experiments with nanowire-based quantum dots localized at the interface between SrTiO3 and LaAlO3. Electrostatic gating of the quantum dot reveals a series of two-electron conductance resonances--paired electron states--that bifurcate above a critical magnetic field Bp 1-4 Tesla, an order of magnitude larger than the superconducting critical magnetic field. For B Bp, the resonances exhibit a linear Zeeman-like energy splitting. Electron pairing is stable at temperatures as high as T = 900 mK, far above the superconducting transition temperature (Tc 300 mK). These experiments demonstrate the existence of a robust electronic phase in which electrons pair without forming a superconducting state. Key experimental signatures are captured by an attractive-U Hubbard model that describes real-space electron pairing as a precursor to superconductivity. This work was supported by ARO MURI W911NF-08-1-0317 (J.L.), AFOSR MURI FA9550-10-1-0524 (C.-B.E., J.L.) and FA9550-12-1-0342 (C.-B.E.), and grants from the National Science Foundation DMR-1104191 (J.L.), DMR.

Multiorbital Hubbard models are shown to exhibit a spatially isotropic spin-triplet superconductingphase, where equal-spin electrons in different local orbitals are paired. This superconducting state is stabilized in the spin-freezing crossover regime, where local moments emerge in the metal phase, and the pairing is substantially assisted by spin anisotropy. The phase diagram features a superconducting dome below a non-Fermi-liquid metallic region and next to a magnetically ordered phase. We suggest that this type of fluctuating-moment-induced superconductivity, which is not originating from fluctuations near a quantum critical point, may be realized in spin-triplet superconductors such as strontium ruthenates and uranium compounds. PMID:26705649

Multiorbital Hubbard models are shown to exhibit a spatially isotropic spin-triplet superconductingphase, where equal-spin electrons in different local orbitals are paired. This superconducting state is stabilized in the spin-freezing crossover regime, where local moments emerge in the metal phase, and the pairing is substantially assisted by spin anisotropy. The phase diagram features a superconducting dome below a non-Fermi-liquid metallic region and next to a magnetically ordered phase. We suggest that this type of fluctuating-moment-induced superconductivity, which is not originating from fluctuations near a quantum critical point, may be realized in spin-triplet superconductors such as strontium ruthenates and uranium compounds.

This proposal is for theoretical work on strongly correlated electron systems, which are at the center of experimental and theoretical activities in condensed-matter physics. The interest to this field is driven fascinating variety of observed effects, universality of underlying theoretical ideas, and practical applications. I propose to do research on Iron-based superconductors (FeSCs), which currently attract high attention in the physics community. My goal is to understand superconductivity and magnetism in these materials at various dopings, the interplay between the two, and the physics in the phase in which magnetism and superconductivity co-exist. A related goal is to understand the origin of the observed pseudogap-like behavior in the normal state. My research explores the idea that superconductivity is of electronic origin and is caused by the exchange of spin-fluctuations, enhanced due to close proximity to antiferromagnetism. The multi-orbital/multi-band nature of FeSCs opens routes for qualitatively new superconducting states, particularly the ones which break time-reversal symmetry. By all accounts, the coupling in pnictdes is below the threshold for Mott physics and I intend to analyze these systems within the itinerant approach. My plan is to do research in two stages. I first plan to address several problems within weak-coupling approach. Among them: (i) what sets stripe magnetic order at small doping, (ii) is there a preemptive instability into a spin-nematic state, and how stripe order affects fermions; (iii) is there a co-existence between magnetism and superconductivity and what are the system properties in the co-existence state; (iv) how superconductivity emerges despite strong Coulomb repulsion and can the gap be s-wave but with nodes along electron FSs, (v) are there complex superconducting states, like s+id, which break time reversal symmetry. My second goal is to go beyond weak coupling and derive spin-mediated, dynamic interaction between

The multistate Potts models on two-dimensional hyperbolic lattices are studied with respect to various boundary effects. The free energy is numerically calculated using the corner transfer matrix renormalization group method. We analyze phase transitions of the Potts models in the thermodynamic limit with respect to contracted boundary layers. A false phase transition is present even if a couple of the boundary layers are contracted. Its significance weakens, as the number of the contracted boundary layers increases, until the correct phase transition (deep inside the bulk) prevails over the false one. For this purpose, we derive a thermodynamic quantity, the so-called bulk excess free energy, which depends on the contracted boundary layers and memorizes additional boundary effects. In particular, the magnetic field is imposed on the outermost boundary layer. While the boundary magnetic field does not affect the second-order phase transition in the bulk if suppressing all the boundary effects on the hyperbolic lattices, the first-order (discontinuous) phase transition is significantly sensitive to the boundary magnetic field. Contrary to the phase transition on the Euclidean lattices, the discontinuous phase transition on the hyperbolic lattices can be continuously controlled (within a certain temperature coexistence region) by varying the boundary magnetic field. PMID:27627272

Our interest lies in quality control for clinical trials, in the context of risk-based monitoring (RBM). We specifically study the use of central statistical monitoring (CSM) to support RBM. Under an RBM paradigm, we claim that CSM has a key role to play in identifying the "risks to the most critical data elements and processes" that will drive targeted oversight. In order to support this claim, we first see how to characterize the risks that may affect clinical trials. We then discuss how CSM can be understood as a tool for providing a set of data-driven key risk indicators (KRIs), which help to organize adaptive targeted monitoring. Several case studies are provided where issues in a clinical trial have been identified thanks to targeted investigation after the identification of a risk using CSM. Using CSM to build data-driven KRIs helps to identify different kinds of issues in clinical trials. This ability is directly linked with the exhaustiveness of the CSM approach and its flexibility in the definition of the risks that are searched for when identifying the KRIs. In practice, a CSM assessment of the clinical database seems essential to ensure data quality. The atypical data patterns found in some centers and variables are seen as KRIs under a RBM approach. Targeted monitoring or data management queries can be used to confirm whether the KRIs point to an actual issue or not. PMID:26233672

A superconductive structure including a dielectric oxide substrate, a thin buffer layer of a superconducting material thereon; and, a layer of a rare earth-barium-copper oxide superconducting film thereon the thin layer of yttrium-barium-copper oxide, the rare earth selected from the group consisting of samarium, gadolinium, ytterbium, erbium, neodymium, dysprosium, holmium, lutetium, a combination of more than one element from the rare earth group and a combination of one or more elements from the rare earth group with yttrium, the buffer layer of superconducting material characterized as having chemical and structural compatibility with the dielectric oxide substrate and the rare earth-barium-copper oxide superconducting film is provided.

A superconductive structure including a dielectric oxide substrate, a thin buffer layer of a superconducting material thereon; and, a layer of a rare earth-barium-copper oxide superconducting film thereon the thin layer of yttrium-barium-copper oxide, the rare earth selected from the group consisting of samarium, gadolinium, ytterbium, erbium, neodymium, dysprosium, holmium, lutetium, a combination of more than one element from the rare earth group and a combination of one or more elements from the rare earth group with yttrium, the buffer layer of superconducting material characterized as having chemical and structural compatibility with the dielectric oxide substrate and the rare earth-barium-copper oxide superconducting film is provided.

Two series of the Fe1.02Se0.5Te0.5-xSx (I) and Fe1.02Se0.4Te0.6-xSx (II) samples with the sulfur for tellurium substitution and with the invariable Se concentrations have been synthesized and studied by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The superconducting PbO-type phase is found to persists in the first series up to x = 0.4 and in the second one up to x = 0.5. Despite the lower ionic radius of sulfur in comparison with tellurium the replacement of tellurium by sulfur does not lead to contraction of the unit cell volume of the superconductingphase in both I and II series with ternary mixture of chalcogens. Variations of the lattice parameters caused by the S for Te substitution in the Fe1.02Se0.5Te0.5-xSx and Fe1.02Se0.4Te0.6-xSx samples are found to be less pronounced than that reported for the Fe1.02Te0.5Se0.5-xSx system and are accompanied by lowering of the critical temperature. The behavior of the lattice parameters and critical temperature of Fe(S,Se,Te) materials with the ternary mixture of chalcogens at substitutions is ascribed to the changes in the volume fraction and chemical compositions of the coexisting tetragonal and hexagonal phases.

Diphenylalanine (FF) peptide nanotubes (PNTs) represent a unique class of self-assembled functional biomaterials owing to a wide range of useful properties including nanostructural variability, mechanical rigidity and chemical stability. In addition, strong piezoelectric activity has recently been observed paving the way to their use as nanoscale sensors and actuators. In this work, we fabricated both horizontal and vertical FF PNTs and examined their optical second harmonic generation and local piezoresponse as a function of temperature. The measurements show a gradual decrease in polarization with increasing temperature accompanied by an irreversible phase transition into another crystalline phase at about 140-150 °C. The results are corroborated by the molecular dynamic simulations predicting an order-disorder phase transition into a centrosymmetric (possibly, orthorhombic) phase with antiparallel polarization orientation in neighbouring FF rings. Partial piezoresponse hysteresis indicates incomplete polarization switching due to the high coercive field in FF PNTs.

We report systematic studies of structural, microstructural and transport properties of (Hg 0.80Sb 0.2- xPb x)Ba 2Ca 2Cu 3O 8+ δ (where x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) compounds. Bulk polycrystalline samples have been prepared by two-step solid-state reaction route at ambient pressure. It has been observed that simultaneous substitution of Sb and Pb at Hg site in oxygen deficient HgO δ layer of HgBa 2Ca 2Cu 3O 8+ δ cuprate high- Tc superconductor leads to the formation of Hg-1223 as the dominant phase. Microstructural investigations of the as grown samples employing scanning electron microscopy reveal single crystal like large grains embodying spiral like features. Superconducting properties particularly transport current density ( Jct) have been found to be sensitive to these microstructural features. As for example (Hg 0.80Sb 0.05Pb 0.15)Ba 2Ca 2Cu 3O 8+ δ compound which exhibits single crystal like large grains (∼50 μm) and appears to result through spiral growth mechanism, shows highest Jct (∼1.85 × 10 3 A/cm 2) at 77 K. A possible mechanism for the generation of spiral like features and correlation between microstructural features and superconducting properties have been put forward.

Einstein-Maxwell theory conformally coupled to a scalar field in D dimensions may exhibit a phase transition at low temperature whose end point is an asymptotically anti-de Sitter black hole with a scalar field profile that is regular everywhere outside and on the horizon. This provides a tractable model to study the phase transition of hairy black holes in anti-de Sitter space in which the backreaction on the geometry can be solved analytically.

The change in phase stability of Group-VB (V, Nb, and Ta) transition metals due to pressure and alloying is explored by means of first-principles electronic-structure calculations. It is shown that under compression stabilization or destabilization of the ground-state body-centered cubic (bcc) phase of the metal is mainly dictated by the band-structure energy that correlates well with the position of the Kohn anomaly in the transverse acoustic phonon mode. The predicted position of the Kohn anomaly in V, Nb, and Ta is found to be in a good agreement with data from the inelastic x-ray or neutron scattering measurements. In the case of alloying the change in phase stability is defined by the interplay between the band-structure and Madelung energies. We show that band-structure effects determine phase stability when a particular Group-VB metal is alloyed with its nearest neighbors within the same d-transition series: the neighbor with less and more d electrons destabilize and stabilize the bcc phase, respectively. When V is alloyed with neighbors of a higher (4d- or 5d-) transition series, both electrostatic Madelung and band-structure energies stabilize the body-centered-cubic phase. The opposite effect (destabilization) happens when Nb or Ta is alloyed with neighbors of the 3d-transition series.

We report magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and neutron scattering measurements as a function of applied magnetic field and temperature to characterize the S = 1/2 quasi-two-dimensional (2D) frustrated magnet piperazinium hexachlorodicuprate (PHCC). The experiments reveal four distinct phases. At low temperatures and fields the material forms a quantum paramagnet with a 1 meV singlet triplet gap and a magnon bandwidth of 1.7 meV. The singlet state involves multiple spin pairs some of which have negative ground state bond energies. Increasing the field at low temperatures induces 3D long-range antiferromagnetic order at 7.5 Tesla through a continuous phase transition that can be described as magnon Bose Einstein condensation. The phase transition to a fully polarized ferromagnetic state occurs at 37 Tesla. The ordered antiferromagnetic phase is surrounded by a renormalized classical region. The crossover to this phase from the quantum paramagnet is marked by a distinct anomaly in the magnetic susceptibility which coincides with closure of the finite temperature singlet triplet pseudo gap. The phase boundary between the quantum paramagnet and the Bose Einstein condensate features a finite temperature minimum at T = 0.2 K, which may be associated with coupling to nuclear spin or lattice degrees of freedom close to quantum criticality.

Successional phases describe changes in ecological communities that proceed in steps rather than continuously. Despite their importance for the understanding of ecosystem development, there still exists no reliable definition of phases and no quantitative measure of phase transitions. In order to obtain these data, we investigated primary succession in an artificial catchment (6 ha) in eastern Germany over a period of 6 years. The data set consists of records of plant species and their cover values, and initial substrate properties, both from plots in a regular grid (20 m × 20 m) suitable for spatial data analysis. Community assembly was studied by analyses of species co-occurrence and nestedness. Additionally, we correlated lognormal and log series distributions of species abundance to each community. We here introduce a new general method for detection of successional phases based on the degree of transient spatial homogeneity in the study system. Spatially coherent vegetation patterns revealed nonoverlapping partitions within this sequence of primary succession and were characterized as two distinct ecological phases. Patterns of species co-occurrence were increasingly less random, and hence the importance of demographic stochasticity and neutral community assembly decreased during the study period. Our findings highlight the spatial dimension of successional phases and quantify the degree of change between these steps. They are an element for advancing a more reliable terminology of ecological successions. PMID:23234854

As one of the simplest systems for realizing Majorana fermions, the topological superconductor plays an important role in both condensed matter physics and quantum computations. Based on ab initio calculations and the analysis of an effective 8-band model with superconducting pairing, we demonstrate that the three-dimensional extended s-wave Fe-based superconductors such as Fe_{1+y}Se_{0.5}Te_{0.5} have a metallic topologically nontrivial band structure, and exhibit a normal-topological-normal superconductivityphase transition on the (001) surface by tuning the bulk carrier doping level. In the topological superconductivity (TSC) phase, a Majorana zero mode is trapped at the end of a magnetic vortex line. We further show that the surface TSC phase only exists up to a certain bulk pairing gap, and there is a normal-topological phase transition driven by the temperature, which has not been discussed before. These results pave an effective way to realize the TSC and Majorana fermions in a large class of superconductors. PMID:27494494

Water-driven self-assembly of lipids displays a variety of liquid crystalline phases that are crucial for membrane functions. In this work, we characterized the temperature-induced phase transitions in aqueous self-assembly systems using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements. The polar head group region was investigated using tryptophan (Trp) and two of its ester derivatives, and the hydrophobic tail region was probed using pyrene. The spectral changes in tryptophan and pyrene were used as a benchmark to estimate the polarity of the head group region and the tail region, respectively. A basic medium was detected and estimated for the polar region in the inverse cubic phase of a Guerbet glycolipid and was attributed to the structural effect of the narrow nanochannels. All the studied lipid compositions show completely reversible temperature-induced phase transitions, reflecting the thermodynamic equilibrium structures of their mesophases. The results reveal a large degree of heterogeneity and flexibility of the lipid self-assembly which may be crucial for carrying out different biological functions.

Microfluidic and nanofluidic devices have undergone rapid development in recent years. Functions integrated onto such devices provide lab-on-a-chip solutions for many biomedical, chemical, and engineering applications. In this paper, a lab-on-a-chip technique for direct visualization of the single- and two-phase pressure-driven flows in nano-scale channels was developed. The nanofluidic chip was designed and fabricated; concentration dependent fluorescence signal correlation was developed for the determination of flow rate. Experiments of single and two-phase flow in nano-scale channels with 100 nm depth were conducted. The linearity correlation between flow rate and pressure drop in nanochannels was obtained and fit closely into Poiseuille's Law. Meanwhile, three different flow patterns, single, annular, and stratified, were observed from the two-phase flow in the nanochannel experiments and their special features were described. A two-phase flow regime map for nanochannels is presented. Results are of critical importance to both fundamental study and many applications. PMID:23370894

A novel liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS)-based wavelength selective switch (WSS) is proposed, fabricated, and demonstrated. It employs a multilayered arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) as a wavelength multiplex/demultiplexer. The LCOS deflects spectrally decomposed beams channel by channel and switches them to desired waveguide layers of the multilayered AWG. In order to obtain the multilayered AWG with high yield, phase errors of the AWG is externally compensated for by an additional phase modulation with the LCOS. This additional phase modulation is applied to the equivalent image of the facet of the AWG, which is projected by a relay lens. In our previously-reported WSS configuration, somewhat large footprint and increased cost were the drawbacks, since two LCOSs were required: one LCOS was driven for the inter-port switching operation, and the other was for the phase-error compensation. In the newly proposed configuration, on the other hand, both switching and compensation operations are performed using a single LCOS. This reduction of the component count is realized by introducing the folded configuration with a reflector. The volume of the WSS optics is 80 × 100 × 60 mm3, which is approximately 40% smaller than the previous configuration. The polarization-dependent loss and inter-channel crosstalk are less than 1.5 dB and -21.0 dB, respectively. An error-free transmission of 40-Gbit/s NRZ-OOK signal through the WSS is successfully demonstrated. PMID:23938561

This work has several parts, two of which are collaborative development projects with the majority of the work being performed at Argonne. The first is the development of a superconducting RFQ structure in collaboration with AccSys Technology Inc. of Pleasanton, California, funded as a Phase II SBIR grant. Another is a collaborative project with the Nuclear Science Centre, New Delhi, India (who are funding the work) to develop new superconducting ion accelerating structures. Other initiatives are developing various aspects of the technology required to utilize ATLAS as a secondary beam linac for radioactive beams.

We discuss phase transitions in three-component models of superfluidity and superconductivity. We present Monte Carlo simulations showing that for certain types of inter-component interactions, these systems exhibit novel types of first order phase transitions that are driven by spin-waves. Supported by NSF CAREER Award DMR-0955902, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation through the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences andSwedish Research Council.

We study the interplay between large-spin, spin-orbit coupling, and superfluidity for bosons in a two-dimensional optical lattice, focusing on the spin-1 spin-orbit-coupled system recently realized at the Joint Quantum Institute [Campbell et al., arXiv:1501.05984]. We find a rich quantum phase diagram where, in addition to the conventional phases—superfluid and insulator—contained in the spin-1 Bose-Hubbard model, there are new lattice symmetry breaking phases. For weak interactions, the interplay between two length scales, the lattice momentum and the spin-orbit wave vector, induce a phase transition from a uniform superfluid to a phase where bosons simultaneously condense at the center and edge of the Brillouin zone at a nonzero spin-orbit strength. This state is characterized by spin-density-wave order, which arises from the spin-1 nature of the system. Interactions suppress spin-density-wave order, and favor a superfluid only at the Brillouin zone edge. This state has spatially oscillating mean-field order parameters, but a homogeneous density. We show that the spin-density-wave superfluid phase survives in a two-dimensional harmonic trap, and thus establish that our results are directly applicable to experiments on 87Rb,7Li, and 41K.

A neutron detection concept is presented that is based on superconductive niobium (Nb) strips coated by a boron (B) layer. The working principle of the detector relies on the nuclear reaction, {sup 10}B + n → α + {sup 7}Li, with α and Li ions generating a hot spot on the current-biased Nb strip which in turn induces a superconducting-normal state transition. The latter is recognized as a voltage signal which is the evidence of the incident neutron. The above described detection principle has been experimentally assessed and verified by irradiating the samples with a pulsed neutron beam at the ISIS spallation neutron source (UK). It is found that the boron coated superconducting strips, kept at a temperature T = 8 K and current-biased below the critical current I{sub c}, are driven into the normal state upon thermal neutron irradiation. As a result of the transition, voltage pulses in excess of 40 mV are measured while the bias current can be properly modulated to bring the strip back to the superconducting state, thus resetting the detector. Measurements on the counting rate of the device are presented and the basic physical features of the detector are discussed.

A neutron detection concept is presented that is based on superconductive niobium (Nb) strips coated by a boron (B) layer. The working principle of the detector relies on the nuclear reaction, 10B + n → α + 7Li, with α and Li ions generating a hot spot on the current-biased Nb strip which in turn induces a superconducting-normal state transition. The latter is recognized as a voltage signal which is the evidence of the incident neutron. The above described detection principle has been experimentally assessed and verified by irradiating the samples with a pulsed neutron beam at the ISIS spallation neutron source (UK). It is found that the boron coated superconducting strips, kept at a temperature T = 8 K and current-biased below the critical current Ic, are driven into the normal state upon thermal neutron irradiation. As a result of the transition, voltage pulses in excess of 40 mV are measured while the bias current can be properly modulated to bring the strip back to the superconducting state, thus resetting the detector. Measurements on the counting rate of the device are presented and the basic physical features of the detector are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to determine the experimental parameters under which commercially pure YBa2Cu3O7 (1237) powders would be converted into a single phase (1237) powder only. Carbon (present as carbonate) and impurity phase concentrations in the (1237) powder are very dependent upon the firing temperatures, heat-treating temperatures and times, and atmosphere, while the moisture concentration is not. YBa2Cu3O7 powder with about 0.03 wt/%, carbon, 0.03 wt% moisture, and low impurity phase concentrations was obtained. Moisture and carbon concentrations in heat-treated powders did not increase significantly after 48 and 72 h of exposure to air, respectively, and after 144 h of exposure they were less than 0.26 and 0.08 wt/%, respectively. The (1237) powder first reacts with moisture and then hydroxide reacts with CO2. Firing the as received powders in air led to the decomposition of the superconducting (1237) phase.

Polarized Raman scattering spectra of superconducting K(x)Fe(2-y)Se2 and non-superconducting K0.8Fe1.8Co0.2Se2 single crystals were measured in the temperature range from 10 K up to 300 K. Two Raman active modes from the I4/mmm phase and seven from the I4/m phase are observed in the frequency range from 150 to 325 cm(-1) in both compounds, suggesting that the K0.8Fe1.8Co0.2Se2 single crystal also has a two-phase nature. The temperature dependence of the Raman mode energy is analyzed in terms of lattice thermal expansion and phonon-phonon interaction. The temperature dependence of the Raman mode linewidth is dominated by temperature-induced anharmonic effects. It is shown that the change in Raman mode energy with temperature is dominantly driven by thermal expansion of the crystal lattice. An abrupt change of the A1g mode energy near T(C) was observed in K(x)Fe(2-y) Se2, whereas it is absent in non-superconducting K0.8Fe1.8Co0.2Se2. Phonon energy hardening at low temperatures in the superconducting sample is a consequence of superconductivity-induced redistribution of the electronic states below the critical temperature. PMID:26569081

We report an anomalous phase transition in compressed In2Se3. The high-pressure studies indicate that In2Se3 transforms to a new isosymmetric R-3m structure at 0.8 GPa whilst the volume collapses by ˜7%. This phase transition involves a pressure-induced interlayer shear glide with respect to one another. Consequently, the outer Se atoms of one sheet locate into the interstitial sites of three Se atoms in the neighboring sheets that are weakly connected by van der Waals interaction. Interestingly, this interlayer shear glide changes the stacking sequence significantly but leaves crystal symmetry unaffected. This study provides an insight to the mechanisms of the intriguing isosymmetric phase transition.

The location of the critical end point (CEP) in the QCD phase diagram is determined under different scenarios. The effect of strangeness, isospin/charge asymmetry and an external magnetic field is investigated. The discussion is performed within the 2+1 flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model with Polyakov loop. It is shown that isospin asymmetry shifts the CEP to larger baryonic chemical potentials and smaller temperatures. At large asymmetries the CEP disappears. However, a strong enough magnetic field drives the system into a first order phase transition.

Available from UMI in association with The British Library. Requires signed TDF. After giving a description of the basic physical phenomena to be modelled, we begin by formulating a sharp -interface free-boundary model for the destruction of superconductivity by an applied magnetic field, under isothermal and anisothermal conditions, which takes the form of a vectorial Stefan model similar to the classical scalar Stefan model of solid/liquid phase transitions and identical in certain two-dimensional situations. This model is found sometimes to have instabilities similar to those of the classical Stefan model. We then describe the Ginzburg-Landau theory of superconductivity, in which the sharp interface is 'smoothed out' by the introduction of an order parameter, representing the number density of superconducting electrons. By performing a formal asymptotic analysis of this model as various parameters in it tend to zero we find that the leading order solution does indeed satisfy the vectorial Stefan model. However, at the next order we find the emergence of terms analogous to those of 'surface tension' and 'kinetic undercooling' in the scalar Stefan model. Moreover, the 'surface energy' of a normal/superconducting interface is found to take both positive and negative values, defining Type I and Type II superconductors respectively. We discuss the response of superconductors to external influences by considering the nucleation of superconductivity with decreasing magnetic field and with decreasing temperature respectively, and find there to be a pitchfork bifurcation to a superconducting state which is subcritical for Type I superconductors and supercritical for Type II superconductors. We also examine the effects of boundaries on the nucleation field, and describe in more detail the nature of the superconducting solution in Type II superconductors--the so-called 'mixed state'. Finally, we present some open questions concerning both the modelling and analysis of

An improved method for the preparation of single phase, fine grained ceramic materials from precursor powder mixtures where at least one of the components of the mixture is an alkali earth carbonate. The process consists of heating the precursor powders in a partial vacuum under flowing oxygen and under conditions where the partial pressure of CO.sub.2 evolved during the calcination is kept to a very low level relative to the oxygen. The process has been found particularly suitable for the preparation of high temperature copper oxide superconducting materials such as YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x "123" and YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.4 O.sub.8 "124".

We propose and analyze an interface between a topological qubit and a superconducting flux qubit. In our scheme, the interaction between Majorana fermions in a topological insulator is coherently controlled by a superconductingphase that depends on the quantum state of the flux qubit. A controlled-phase gate, achieved by pulsing this interaction on and off, can transfer quantum information between the topological qubit and the superconducting qubit. PMID:21517365

We have studied the behavior of LaFeO{sub 3} under pressure (P) using density functional theory (DFT) and atomistic simulations. Ground state structural properties of LaFeO{sub 3} are correctly described by atomistic simulations. The effect of high pressure shows that there is an isotropic compression up to 100 GPa. However, DFT calculations show that within pressure range 0 phase transition is observed, which is accompanied by 6.9% volume collapse of LaFeO{sub 3} unit cell, while retaining the ground state orthorhombic crystal structure, i.e., isostructural phase transition. Furthermore, the band gap is closed leading insulator to metal transition. This differing behavior observed by the two techniques can be attributed to the omission of magnetic effects in static simulations. The simultaneous magnetic, electrical, and structural (volume collapse) phase transitions of LaFeO{sub 3} under compression as revealed by DFT calculations corroborate experimental findings. From these results, we can elaborate the mechanism of phase transition in LaFeO{sub 3}: increasing crystal field induces a high spin to low spin transition, which in turn drives the electrical transitions and volume collapse.

The vibration and load characteristics of an ultrasonic motor using a circular vibration disk with three longitudinal transducers have been studied. Three bolt-clamped Langevin type piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) longitudinal transducers (BLT) 20 mm in diameter were installed along the circumference of the circular disk, and complex transverse vibration rods were installed normally in the center of the circular disk. A complex transverse vibration rods are driven simultaneously using three power amplifiers with a phase difference of 120°. The transducers could also be driven using only one power amplifier in the case where the resonance frequencies were slightly different. A rotor disk installed on the free edge of the transverse vibration rod was pressed statically to a driving surface using a system for inducing static pressure. A maximum torque over 0.12 Nm was obtained using three power amplifiers under a static pressure of 1.7 MPa. A maximum rotation of 280 rpm and an efficiency of 1.13% were obtained using one power amplifier under a static pressure of 1.4 MPa.

Perchlorate salts, known to exist on Mars, can readily absorb water vapor and deliquesce into aqueous solution. We have previously studied pure perchlorate and found that the deliquescence relative humidity (DRH) is <60% regardless of cation, hydration state or temperature (223 to 273 K). We have also shown that efflorescence (recrystallization) of perchlorate solutions is kinetically hindered, allowing supersaturation to occur at RH values below the DRH. In addition to perchlorate, Phoenix instruments found chloride, sulfate, carbonate, magnesium, sodium, potassium and calcium in the Martian regolith. The vertical and spatial distributions of these ions are unknown, but all were present in a single 1 g sample. It is therefore likely that these ions coexist with perchlorate. Many salts likely present in the regolith are less deliquescent than perchlorates, and it is important to understand how these additional species will affect perchlorate deliquescence. Here we study deliquescence (solid to aqueous transition) and efflorescence (aqueous to solid transition) of 3 perchlorate/chloride systems: KClO4/KCl at 253 K and NaClO4/NaCl and Mg(ClO4)2/MgCl2 at 243 and 253 K. A Raman microscope and environmental cell were used to monitor phase transitions of internally mixed perchlorate/chloride particles. The eutonic RH, where an aqueous phase first forms, is 30% RH for Mg(ClO4)2/MgCl2, 38% RH for NaClO4/NaCl and 82% RH for KClO4/KCl mixtures regardless of initial composition. We observed complete deliquescence of all salt mixtures at RH values below the DRH of the least deliquescent pure salt. When humidity is lowered, efflorescence of all solutions occurred below the DRH suggesting supersaturated solutions can exist. The low eutonic RH values of the sodium and magnesium perchlorate/chloride mixtures are significant for Mars, as these humidities can be reached at the Martian surface. It is likely that some salts in the regolith may exist as stable or metastable solutions

In situ techniques with high temporal, spatial and chemical resolution are key to understand ubiquitous solid-state phase transformations, which are crucial to many technological applications. Hard X-ray spectro-imaging can visualize electrochemically drivenphase transformations but demands considerably large samples with strong absorption signal so far. Here we show a conceptually new data analysis method to enable operando visualization of mechanistically relevant weakly absorbing samples at the nanoscale and study electrochemical reaction dynamics of iron fluoride, a promising high-capacity conversion cathode material. In two specially designed samples with distinctive microstructure and porosity, we observe homogeneous phase transformations during both discharge andmore » charge, faster and more complete Li-storage occurring in porous polycrystalline iron fluoride, and further, incomplete charge reaction following a pathway different from conventional belief. In conclusion, these mechanistic insights provide guidelines for designing better conversion cathode materials to realize the promise of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries.« less

Abrupt changes in effective concentration and osmotic pressure of lower critical solution temperature (LCST) mixtures facilitate the design of a continuous desalination method driven by a mild temperature gradient. We propose a prototype desalination system by circulating LCST mixtures between low and high temperature (low T and high T) units. Water molecules could be drawn from a high-salt solution to the LCST mixture through a semipermeable membrane at a temperature lower than the phase transition temperature, at which the effective osmotic pressure of the LCST mixture is higher than the high-salt solution. After transfer of water to the high T unit where the LCST mixture is phase-separated, the water-rich phase could release the drawn water into a well-diluted solution through the second membrane due to the significant decrease in effective concentration. The solute-rich phase could be recovered in the low T unit via a circulation process. The molar mass, phase transition temperature, and aqueous solubility of the LCST solute could be tuneable for the circulatory osmotic desalination system in which drawing, transfer, release of water, and the separation and recovery of the solutes could proceed simultaneously. Development of a practical desalination system that draws water molecules directly from seawater and produces low-salt water with high purity by mild temperature gradients, possibly induced by sunlight or waste heat, could be attainable by a careful design of the molecular structure and combination of the circulatory desalination systems based on low- and high-molar-mass LCST draw solutes. PMID:24129795

A dual-phase material (DP-160) comprising hydrated titanate (H{sub 2}Ti{sub 3}O{sub 7}{center_dot}xH{sub 2}O) and anatase (TiO{sub 2}) was synthesized in a low-temperature one-pot process in the presence of triethylamine (TEA) as the N-source. The unique structure exhibits strong visible light absorption. The chromophore is linked to Ti-N bonds derived from both surface sensitization and sub-surface (bulk) doping. From transmission electron microscope (TEM) and textural studies by N{sub 2} physisorption, the composite exists as mesoporous particles with a grain size of {approx}20 nm and mean pore diameter of 3.5 nm, responsible for the high surface area ({approx}180 m{sup 2}/g). DP-160 demonstrated photocatalytic activity in the degradation of phenol under visible light ({lambda}>420 nm). The activity of the composite was further enhanced by a small addition (0.001 M) of H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, which also gave rise to some visible light activity in the control samples. This effect is believed to be associated with the surface peroxo-titanate complex. GC-MS analyses showed that the intermediate products of phenol degradation induced by visible light irradiation of DP-160 did not differ from those obtained by UV (band-gap) irradiation of TiO{sub 2}. The overall performance of the composite is attributed to efficient excitation via inter-band states (due to N-doping), surface sensitization, improved adsorptive properties of aromatic compounds due to the N-carbonaceous overlayer, and the presence of heterojunctions that are known to promote directional charge transfer in other mixed-phase titanias like Degussa P25. - graphical abstract: Nitrogen-sensitized dual phase titanate/titania photocatalyst showing extended visible light absorption and efficient photocatalytic degradation of phenol. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Low temperature one-pot synthesis of visible light active dual phase photocatalyst. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The dual phase consists of

Capillary-driven flows are fundamental phenomena and are involved in many key technological processes, such as oil recovery through porous rocks, ink-jet printing, the bubble dynamics in a capillary, microfluidic devices and labs on chips. Here, we discuss and propose a model for the oil displacement dynamics from the capillary by the nanofluid (which is composed of a liquid suspension of nanoparticles); we elucidate the physics of the novelty of the phenomenon and its application. The oil displacement by the nanofluid flow is a multi-stage phenomenon, first leading to the oil film formation on the capillary wall, its break-up, and retraction over the capillary wall; this lead to the formation of the oil double concave meniscus. With time, the process repeats itself, leading to the formation of a regular "necklace" of oil droplets inside the capillary. Finally, the oil droplets are separated by the nanofluid film from the capillary wall. The light reflected differential interferometry technique is applied to investigate the nanofluid interactions with the glass wall. We find nanoparticles tend to self-structure into multiple layers close to the solid wall, which cause the structural forces to arise that lead to the oil displacement from the capillary. This research is expected to benefit the understanding of nanofluid phenomena in a capillary and promote their use in technological applications. PMID:25465201

A fully superconducting magnetic suspension structure has been designed and constructed for the purpose of superconducting bearing applications in flywheel energy storage systems. A thrust type bearing and two journal type bearings, those that are composed of melt textured high-Tc superconductor YBCO bulks and Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets, are used in the bearing system. The rotor dynamical behaviors, including critical speeds and rotational loss, are studied. Driven by a variable-frequency three-phase induction motor, the rotor shaft attached with a 25 kg flywheel disc can be speeded up to 15 000 rpm without serious resonance occurring. Although the flywheel system runs stably in the supercritical speeds region, very obvious rotational loss is unavoidable. The loss mechanism has been discussed in terms of eddy current loss and hysteresis loss.

Driven diffusive systems have provided simple models for nonequilibrium systems with nontrivial structures. Steady-state behavior of these systems with constant boundary conditions have been studied extensively. Comparatively less work has been carried out on the responses of these systems to time-dependent parameters. We report the modifications to the probability density function of a two-particle exclusion model in response to a periodically changing perturbation to its boundary conditions. The changes in the shape of the distribution as a function of the frequency of the perturbation contains considerable structure. A dynamical phase transition in which the system response changes abruptly as a function of perturbation frequency was observed. We interpret this structure to be a consequence of the existence of a typical time scale associated with the dynamics of density shock profiles within the system.

The modulation of the electron conductivity in an air filament, which is produced by carrier-envelope phase (CEP) stabilized 7-fs laser pulses, is realized experimentally. Numerical results based on a coupled 3D+1 generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation including the real electric-field dependent ionization model are in good agreement with those from the experiment. It is demonstrated that the CEP effect on the electron density originates from the CEP-induced modification of the electric field of the laser pulse, and this modification is amplified during nonlinear propagation. The results provide important information to help understand the physical mechanism of the filaments driven by few-cycle femtosecond laser pulses.

High-temperature superconductivity appears near an antiferromagnetic Mott insulating phase and a normal phase with a pseudogap. It was suggested early on by Anderson that the strong-coupling limit of the Hubbard model should contain the main physics. It is only recently that we have begun to have access to sufficiently accurate algorithms and powerful enough computers to begin to extract the main features of the phase diagram of high-temperature superconductors from the Hubbard model in a nearly quantitative manner. In this talk, the zero temperature phase diagram of the two-dimensional Hubbard model is discussed based on several ``quantum cluster'' approaches, mainly Variational Cluster Perturbation Theory [1] and Cellular Dynamical Mean Field Theory [2], that shall be introduced. The overall ground state phase diagram of the high-temperature superconductors as well as the asymmetric one-particle excitation spectra for both hole- and electron-doping are reproduced. The d-wave order parameter is found to assume a dome shape as a function of doping and to scale like the magnetic exchange coupling J for U comparable to the bandwidth. We stress the features of superconductivity that are non-BCS like due to the proximity to the Mott insulator. In stark contrast with BCS theory, the superconducting gap can decrease monotonically at the same time as the d-wave order parameter increases away from half-filling. Also, d-wave superconductivity is driven by a lowering of kinetic energy instead of potential energy, in conformity with experiments on cuprates. The pseudogap [3-5] and results of other approaches will also be briefly touched upon. [1] David S'en'echal, P.-L. Lavertu, M.-A. Marois, and A.- M.S. Tremblay, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 156404 (2005). [2] S. S. Kancharla, M. Civelli, M. Capone, B. Kyung, D. Senechal, G. Kotliar, A.-M.S. Tremblay, cond-mat/0508205. [3] B. Kyung, S.S. Kancharla, D. S'en'echal, A.-M.S. Tremblay, M. Civelli, and G. Kotliar cond-mat/0502565 [4] B

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are unique compounds employed in non-volatile random access memory thanks to the rapid and reversible transformation between the amorphous and crystalline state that display large differences in electrical and optical properties. In addition to the amorphous-to-crystalline transition, experimental results on polycrystalline GeSbTe alloys (GST) films evidenced a Metal-Insulator Transition (MIT) attributed to disorder in the crystalline phase. Here we report on a fundamental advance in the fabrication of GST with out-of-plane stacking of ordered vacancy layers by means of three distinct methods: Molecular Beam Epitaxy, thermal annealing and application of femtosecond laser pulses. We assess the degree of vacancy ordering and explicitly correlate it with the MIT. We further tune the ordering in a controlled fashion attaining a large range of resistivity. Employing ordered GST might allow the realization of cells with larger programming windows. PMID:27033314

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are unique compounds employed in non-volatile random access memory thanks to the rapid and reversible transformation between the amorphous and crystalline state that display large differences in electrical and optical properties. In addition to the amorphous-to-crystalline transition, experimental results on polycrystalline GeSbTe alloys (GST) films evidenced a Metal-Insulator Transition (MIT) attributed to disorder in the crystalline phase. Here we report on a fundamental advance in the fabrication of GST with out-of-plane stacking of ordered vacancy layers by means of three distinct methods: Molecular Beam Epitaxy, thermal annealing and application of femtosecond laser pulses. We assess the degree of vacancy ordering and explicitly correlate it with the MIT. We further tune the ordering in a controlled fashion attaining a large range of resistivity. Employing ordered GST might allow the realization of cells with larger programming windows. PMID:27033314

The dynamics of the plasma sheet ions in the near-earth magnetotail where the Larmor radii are comparable to the magnetic field line curvature radius are examined. It is shown that enhanced centrifugal effects lead to the prominent bunching of the particles in the gyration phase. As a result of this bunching effect, it is demonstrated that a thin current sheet develops in the vicinity of the tail midplane. Using average values of the plasma density and temperature, the current sheet obtained has a characteristic thickness of the order of a few tenths of an earth radius, and leads to significant stretching of the local magnetic field lines. A further consequence of phase bunching is the build-up of a substantial current in the earth tail direction at low latitudes which leads to field line inclination in the dawn-dusk direction.

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are unique compounds employed in non-volatile random access memory thanks to the rapid and reversible transformation between the amorphous and crystalline state that display large differences in electrical and optical properties. In addition to the amorphous-to-crystalline transition, experimental results on polycrystalline GeSbTe alloys (GST) films evidenced a Metal-Insulator Transition (MIT) attributed to disorder in the crystalline phase. Here we report on a fundamental advance in the fabrication of GST with out-of-plane stacking of ordered vacancy layers by means of three distinct methods: Molecular Beam Epitaxy, thermal annealing and application of femtosecond laser pulses. We assess the degree of vacancy ordering and explicitly correlate it with the MIT. We further tune the ordering in a controlled fashion attaining a large range of resistivity. Employing ordered GST might allow the realization of cells with larger programming windows.

We report here synthesis and superconductivity in BiS2 based newly discovered Bi4O4S3 compound. The compound is synthesized through vacuum encapsulation technique and is contaminated with small impurities of Bi2S3 and Bi. The compound is crystallized in tetragonal I4/mmm space group. Bulk superconductivity with superconducting transition temperature (TC) of 4.4 K is confirmed by AC, DC magnetization and resistivity measurements. For further confirmation of intrinsic bulk superconductivity, we have heat treated Bi at same temperature and in similar condition. Bi is crystallized in rhombohedral R-3m space group (impurity phase Bi is also indexed in same space group) and is non-superconducting. This excludes any possibility of impurity drivensuperconductivity in the Bi4O4S3 compound. Isothermal magnetization (M-H) measurements indicated closed loops with clear signatures of flux pinning and irreversible behavior. The magneto-transport ρ (T , H) measurements showed a resistive broadening and decrease in TC (ρ = 0) to lower temperatures with increasing magnetic field. The extrapolated upper critical field Hc2(0) is around 31 kOe. In the normal state the ρ ~ T2 is not indicated. National Physical Laboratory (CSIR), New Delhi-110012, India

Using a recent reformulation of Floquet theory [S. GuérinH. R. Jauslin, Adv. Chem. Phys.12520031], we discuss the dynamical role of the absolute phase in the photofragmentation of molecules subjected to laser pulses. We show how the dependence of Floquet states on an absolute phase is related to the complexity of the dressed molecular scheme and to the multiphoton character of the molecular dynamics. The general theory is applied to the study of the photodissociation of H+2 in a 400-nm periodic laser pulse, repeated with a frequency lying in the IR. The dependence of the dynamics on the phase of the pulse envelope is highlighted through an effect previously called dynamical dissociation quenching (DDQ) [F. Châteauneufet al., J. Chem. Phys.10819983974] and through photofragment kinetic energy spectra. These spectra allow us to map out the Floquet content of the dynamics—i.e., its multiphoton character both with respect to the carrier-wave frequency, which gives rise to the usual bond-softening mechanism, and with respect to the pulse modulation frequency in the IR. The synchronization of this pulse modulation with the wave packet motion governs the DDQ effect in this uv-visible pulsed excitation case.

We have utilized laser-generated shock waves to induce the wurtzite to rock salt structural phase transformation in cadmium sulfide nanorods, and have probed the resulting dynamics and transition state using femtosecond hard x-rays at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) in diffraction. Colloidally grown nanocrystals are an ideal model system with which to study phase transformations because they are defect-free single crystalline domains. Simulations of this transformation at the nanoscale have suggested a two-stage model consisting of a compression along the c-axis to form a 5 coordinate h-MgO intermediate followed by compressive shear along the a-axis, with the transformation rate limited by the shear step. We observe a stress-dependent transition path: At higher peak stresses, the majority of the sample is converted directly into the rock salt phase, with no evidence of an h-MgO intermediate prior to rock salt formation. At lower peak stresses, an h-MgO structure is observed. Additionally, the observed transformation stress is ~3GPa, significantly below the ~7GPa required under hydrostatic compression, confirming previous observations of shear catalyzed structural transformation under shock compression.

A theory of superconductivity in the iron-based materials requires an understanding of the phase diagram of the normal state. In these compounds, superconductivity emerges when stripe spin density wave (SDW) order is suppressed by doping, pressure or atomic disorder. This magnetic order is often pre-empted by nematic order, whose origin is yet to be resolved. One scenario is that nematic order is driven by orbital ordering of the iron 3d electrons that triggers stripe SDW order. Another is that magnetic interactions produce a spin-nematic phase, which then induces orbital order. Here we report the observation by neutron powder diffraction of an additional fourfold-symmetric phase in Ba1-xNaxFe2As2 close to the suppression of SDW order, which is consistent with the predictions of magnetically driven models of nematic order. PMID:24848521

Transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted research interest over the last few decades due to their interesting structural chemistry, unusual electronic properties, rich intercalation chemistry and wide spectrum of potential applications. Despite the fact that the majority of related research focuses on semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides (for example, MoS2), recently discovered unexpected properties of WTe2 are provoking strong interest in semimetallic transition metal dichalcogenides featuring large magnetoresistance, pressure-drivensuperconductivity and Weyl semimetal states. We investigate the sister compound of WTe2, MoTe2, predicted to be a Weyl semimetal and a quantum spin Hall insulator in bulk and monolayer form, respectively. We find that bulk MoTe2 exhibits superconductivity with a transition temperature of 0.10 K. Application of external pressure dramatically enhances the transition temperature up to maximum value of 8.2 K at 11.7 GPa. The observed dome-shaped superconductivityphase diagram provides insights into the interplay between superconductivity and topological physics. PMID:26972450

Transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted research interest over the last few decades due to their interesting structural chemistry, unusual electronic properties, rich intercalation chemistry and wide spectrum of potential applications. Despite the fact that the majority of related research focuses on semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides (for example, MoS2), recently discovered unexpected properties of WTe2 are provoking strong interest in semimetallic transition metal dichalcogenides featuring large magnetoresistance, pressure-drivensuperconductivity and Weyl semimetal states. We investigate the sister compound of WTe2, MoTe2, predicted to be a Weyl semimetal and a quantum spin Hall insulator in bulk and monolayer form, respectively. We find that bulk MoTe2 exhibits superconductivity with a transition temperature of 0.10 K. Application of external pressure dramatically enhances the transition temperature up to maximum value of 8.2 K at 11.7 GPa. The observed dome-shaped superconductivityphase diagram provides insights into the interplay between superconductivity and topological physics. PMID:26972450

Transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted research interest over the last few decades due to their interesting structural chemistry, unusual electronic properties, rich intercalation chemistry and wide spectrum of potential applications. Despite the fact that the majority of related research focuses on semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides (for example, MoS2), recently discovered unexpected properties of WTe2 are provoking strong interest in semimetallic transition metal dichalcogenides featuring large magnetoresistance, pressure-drivensuperconductivity and Weyl semimetal states. We investigate the sister compound of WTe2, MoTe2, predicted to be a Weyl semimetal and a quantum spin Hall insulator in bulk and monolayer form, respectively. We find that bulk MoTe2 exhibits superconductivity with a transition temperature of 0.10 K. Application of external pressure dramatically enhances the transition temperature up to maximum value of 8.2 K at 11.7 GPa. The observed dome-shaped superconductivityphase diagram provides insights into the interplay between superconductivity and topological physics.

We use quantum-field renormalization group methods to study the phase transition in an equilibrium system of nonrelativistic Fermi particles with the "density-density" interaction in the formalism of temperature Green's functions. We especially attend to the case of particles with spins greater than 1/2 or fermionic fields with additional indices for some reason. In the vicinity of the phase transition point, we reduce this model to a ϕ 4 -type theory with a matrix complex skew-symmetric field. We define a family of instantons of this model and investigate the asymptotic behavior of quantum field expansions in this model. We calculate the β-functions of the renormalization group equation through the third order in the ( 4 ∈)-scheme. In the physical space dimensions D = 2, 3, we resum solutions of the renormalization group equation on trajectories of invariant charges. Our results confirm the previously proposed suggestion that in the system under consideration, there is a first-order phase transition into a superconducting state that occurs at a higher temperature than the classical theory predicts.

The effect of pressure on the crystalline structure and superconducting transition temperature (T{sub c}) of the 111-type Na{sub 1–x}FeAs system using in situ high-pressure synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and diamond anvil cell techniques is studied. A pressure-induced tetragonal to tetragonal isostructural phase transition was found. The systematic evolution of the FeAs{sub 4} tetrahedron as a function of pressure based on Rietveld refinements on the powder X-ray diffraction patterns was obtained. The nonmonotonic T{sub c}(P) behavior of Na{sub 1–x}FeAs is found to correlate with the anomalies of the distance between the anion (As) and the iron layer as well as the bond angle of As–Fe–As for the two tetragonal phases. This behavior provides the key structural information in understanding the origin of the pressure dependence of T{sub c} for 111-type iron pnictide superconductors. A pressure-induced structural phase transition is also observed at 20 GPa.

Metastable phases such as metallic glass have been widely studied during the past few years. A number of techniques have been employed to synthesize these alloys, among which, mechanical alloying (MA) was considered to be a promising tool for large production and economical operation. However, the mechanism of formation of the metastable phases during mechanical alloying/ball milling have not been well determined. Previous studies of amorphization by mechanical alloying of pure elements or ball milling of intermetallics have proposed the following mechanics: rapid quenching of local melts produced by mechanical impacts, high density of defects generated by mechanical deformation which raises the free energy of compound to above that of the amorphous phase, effective local temperature rise at the collision site which gives rise to a solid-state reaction similar to thin film diffusion couples. Most of the studies have suggested that solid-state-type reactions are most likely to be responsible for vitrification during mechanical alloying, and the kinetics was controlled by the point and lattice defects generated by mechanical deformation. In the Zr-Al alloy system, however, another mechanisms was proposed by Fecht et al. based on a chemically induced catastrophic transition. The amorphization was interpreted with the elastic instability of crystal caused by the atomic mismatch of two components in supersaturated solid solution; when solute concentration reaches a critical value, the supersaturated solid solution becomes metastable and a polymorphous melting'' transition to a glass may occur. This hypothesis has been further examined by Ma and Atzmon with calorimeter measurements. In this paper, it will be shown experimentally that this mechanism may be valid in the Ti-Al binary system.